Andrew: We need concrete solutions to address gender wage gap, not half-measures

QUEEN’S PARK – Official Opposition NDP critic for Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity Jill Andrew (Toronto – St. Paul’s) called on the government to offer Ontarians real solutions to finally close the gender wage gap following the Minister of Labour’s latest announcement:

“This is the same government that delayed implementing pay transparency for five years in order to ‘save money', keeping all women in the workplace further behind and especially women of intersectional identities, including Indigenous, racialized, disabled, and 2SLGBTQI+ women.

The Ford Conservatives’ signal to Ontarians has been clear – that they have very little real interest in making sure women in Ontario are earning the same as their male peers. In fact, they continue to stand by harmful legislation like Bill 124, that continues to target the wages of women-dominated professions in the public sector.

While we are glad to see the Minister finally take a small step towards acknowledging the importance of salary transparency, there needs to be measures for enforcement, reporting, and tracking of wage gaps to make sure it is effective in meeting our collective goals to pay equity. More than 30 years after the Pay Equity Act was first passed, it’s still yet to be achieved.

On behalf of my community, my Ontario NDP colleagues, women, and our allies across the province, I look forward to working together with the Conservative government to make sure this policy is not too little, too late.”