Toronto, ON – The Equal Pay Coalition and Leadnow.ca launched their provincial election campaign today with the release of their new campaign website at: http://www.fairontario.ca and their first of three election videos.
The Equal Pay Coalition sent letters to all four party leaders asking for their plan to create a FAIR Ontario by reducing the pay gap. Ontario has one of the highest pay gaps in the world.
Despite the historic gain of pay equity legislation 23 years ago, Ontario women working full-time make on average an astonishing 29% less than men. Ontario’s gender pay gap increases substantially when other forms of discrimination are taken into account. Racialized women earn 36% less than men, aboriginal women earn 54% less and women with disabilities also suffer greater pay gaps. At all levels of education and in all occupational categories, women are paid less than men.
“Closing the pay gap is good for Ontario’s economy, resulting in increased productivity, a healthy economy and a reduction in child, family and elder poverty,” explained Mary Cornish, chair of the Equal Pay Coalition.” Paying women equally is not only fair, it is the law.”
Many party leaders have discussed the need for good quality job creation, but none have addressed the pay gap or the ways labour market dynamics contribute to that gap. Most of the 29% gap is caused by prejudice and discrimination, which follows women throughout their lives – reducing lifetime earnings. Seven out of ten part-time workers are women and they are the majority of multiple job workers. Lack of accessible child-care and barriers to getting full time jobs commensurate with abilities and education also contributes to the gap.
Ontarians deserve strong leadership on this issue. “A FAIR plan would work to close the 29% gender pay gap by 5% to 24% by the year 2015″ said Cornish. “Ontarians are not looking for empty promises, but a comprehensive plan that is FAIR – Funded, Accountable, Integrated and Real” said Jamie Biggar, Executive Director, Leadnow.ca.
You can follow the new campaign on Facebook and Twitter and view the campaign video as well as read more details about the FAIR plan at http://www.fairontario.ca
The Equal Pay Coalition sent letters to all four party leaders asking for their plan to create a FAIR Ontario by reducing the pay gap. Ontario has one of the highest pay gaps in the world.
Despite the historic gain of pay equity legislation 23 years ago, Ontario women working full-time make on average an astonishing 29% less than men. Ontario’s gender pay gap increases substantially when other forms of discrimination are taken into account. Racialized women earn 36% less than men, aboriginal women earn 54% less and women with disabilities also suffer greater pay gaps. At all levels of education and in all occupational categories, women are paid less than men.
“Closing the pay gap is good for Ontario’s economy, resulting in increased productivity, a healthy economy and a reduction in child, family and elder poverty,” explained Mary Cornish, chair of the Equal Pay Coalition.” Paying women equally is not only fair, it is the law.”
Many party leaders have discussed the need for good quality job creation, but none have addressed the pay gap or the ways labour market dynamics contribute to that gap. Most of the 29% gap is caused by prejudice and discrimination, which follows women throughout their lives – reducing lifetime earnings. Seven out of ten part-time workers are women and they are the majority of multiple job workers. Lack of accessible child-care and barriers to getting full time jobs commensurate with abilities and education also contributes to the gap.
Ontarians deserve strong leadership on this issue. “A FAIR plan would work to close the 29% gender pay gap by 5% to 24% by the year 2015″ said Cornish. “Ontarians are not looking for empty promises, but a comprehensive plan that is FAIR – Funded, Accountable, Integrated and Real” said Jamie Biggar, Executive Director, Leadnow.ca.
You can follow the new campaign on Facebook and Twitter and view the campaign video as well as read more details about the FAIR plan at http://www.fairontario.ca