Mr. Speaker, I am somewhat disconcerted by what the hon. member just said.
We in the NDP have been clear that income splitting as proposed by the Conservatives in the last Parliament benefited only 14% of the wealthiest couples and was of no help to women facing daily financial difficulties. We also pointed out that this measure was not going to encourage women to realize their potential and access the labour market.
What we are talking about today is defending the right to pay equity, a fundamental need entrenched in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is a matter of encouraging women in their work and recognizing the fair value of that work.
Unlike the Conservatives, we want to move forward, not backward. In 2009, the Conservatives set back women’s right to pay equity instead of moving it forward. That is totally shameful.