The Pay Equity Commissioner’s 2021-2022 Annual Report to the Minister of Labour

Closing the Gender Pay Gap

August 4, 2022 - Ottawa, Ontario - The Federal Pay Equity Unit

Following the release of “Closing the Gender Pay Gap: The Pay Equity Commissioner’s 2021-2022 Annual Report to the Minister,” Karen Jensen, the Pay Equity Commissioner, issues the following statement:

Closing the gender pay gap is essential to our country’s economic and social recovery, and it is good for business. Today’s workforce is looking for a workplace that reflects their value system. They expect equity, diversity and gender equality at their workplace. Pay equity is a concrete way for employers to take action on these values and to demonstrate that they take gender equality seriously.

I became Canada’s first Pay Equity Commissioner in October 2019, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been sobering to witness the devastating effect that the pandemic has had on working women. This is especially true for disabled women, newcomer women, racialized and Indigenous women and for those who are LGBTQ2SI+. For that reason, it is extremely important to ensure that measures to improve the social and economic well-being of women are implemented. Pay equity is one such measure!

Employers are expected to deliver their final pay equity plan and notice of pay increases by September 3rd, 2024. This deadline is approaching faster than many realize. It is important that employers understand their pay equity obligations and work to advance the pay equity process within their organization. The clock is ticking.

Achieving pay equity in Canada’s federally regulated workplaces is a challenging, but extremely important goal. We must all work together to build a Canada where everyone has an equal chance at opportunity and where everyone is valued. As this first Annual Report shows, the Pay Equity Unit of the Canadian Human Rights Commission has the right tools and the right people to help us all reach that goal.

When women thrive, everyone thrives.

– 30 –

Associated Links

Stay Connected

Media Contacts

Media Relations
613-943-9118
communications@chrc-ccdp.gc.ca

Date modified: