Obama Gives Women Right to Sue for Equal Pay while Harper takes it Away

OTTAWA-- A woman's right to equal pay took a step backwards last Thursday when Conservative and Liberal Members of Parliament voted to adopt a budget which contained a provision eliminating the right to sue for pay equity.  Ironically, in Washington, President Obama was signing a new law expanding the rights of American women to sue to obtain pay equity.

US Census Bureau figures show women still earn about 78 cents for every dollar men get for doing equivalent jobs.  According to Canada's National Association of Women and the Law, women earn on average 71% of men's salaries, regardless of age, occupation or education, a gap that is even worse for women of colour, Aboriginal women and women with disabilities.  In 1978, the principle of "equal pay for work of equal value" was included in the Canadian Human Rights Act.

"Many Canadians are surprised to hear that we have not achieved pay equity for women in Canada," said Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May, "but a large gap still exists and now we are moving backward on the issue."

This is not the first time the Harper government has shown itself to be less than supportive of women's rights.    In 2006, they changed the mandate of the Status of Women Canada by removing “equality for women” as a goal.  

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Contact:
Michael Bernard
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Green Party of Canada
Office: 613 562 4916 ext. 244
Cell : 613 614 4916
Fax : 613 482 4632