The gender pay gap in Canada is 11 per cent. For every dollar that the average man earns, the average woman makes $0.89. For racialized women, immigrants, and members of the LGBTQI+ community, the gap is significantly higher.
The gender pay gap in Canada is around three and a half months. Today, on Equal Pay Day, the average woman will have earned in 16 months what the average man earned in 12 months.
Without comprehensive action to address the barriers women face to equality, the gender pay gap will continue to hold women back.
A recent study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that, while Canada’s public sector is much closer to achieving pay equity than the private sector, there’s still a five per cent gap that needs to be closed. And that gap is greatest for women at higher earning levels, meaning that the further a woman advances in her public sector career, the further behind she falls.
The federal government passed the Pay Equity Act in 2018 and committed to putting it into action to address the existing discrepancy – but unions have had to fight for plans that would be truly equitable. Our work on the pay equity committees for the core public administration, the Library of Parliament, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer and the RCMP is helping to address these disparities and ensure that all work is compensated fairly.
Longstanding stereotypes and biases have seen work traditionally done by women undervalued and underpaid, but that is changing. Through the pay equity committees, we are helping to ensure equal pay for work of equal value. This is one step of many that need to be taken to achieve equal pay – but it is an important one.
By committing to change and putting in the work to achieve pay equity, the federal public sector can not only do right by its employees but set a standard for the rest of the country. CAPE will continue to push for better and fairer policies that truly address the additional challenges women face.
Equal pay for equal work.
In solidarity,
Nate
