Ontario to tackle gender wage gap

Thestar.com
Oct. 1, 2014
By Laurie Monsebraaten

Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn has been ordered to develop a strategy to close the 31.5 per cent wage gap between men and women in the province.

In her recent mandate letter to Flynn, Premier Kathleen Wynne notes that “women make up an integral part of our economy and society, but on average still do not earn as much as men.

“You will work with the minister responsible for women’s issues and other ministers to develop a wage gap strategy that will close the gap between men and women in the context of the 21st century economy,” the letter says.

According to the latest available data, women earned an average of $33,600 in 2011 while men earned $49,000.

Equal pay advocates, who have been calling for a provincial strategy similar to Ontario’s anti-poverty and accessibility plans, are thrilled Wynne has highlighted the issue as a government priority.

“Nothing really happens unless you have a plan and you require people to take certain steps across ministries,” said human rights and labour lawyer Mary Cornish, who heads the Equal Pay Coalition.

Under Cornish’s leadership, the coalition was instrumental in pushing Ontario to pass the Pay Equity Act in 1987 when the gender wage gap was 38 per cent.

“It is exciting to get this in a mandate letter with such strong wording,” Cornish said.

It is also “a fairly big deal” that Wynne’s mandate letter to Women’s Minister Tracy MacCharles directs her to work with her Cabinet colleagues to bring a gender lens to all government strategy, programs and policy, she added.

The coalition has asked Flynn and MacCharles for a meeting this month to begin developing the strategy.