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Our Progress

The struggle against wage discrimination goes back over a century in New Brunswick. Since then, the promotion of pay equity has had notable success. Over the years, we’ve seen the implementation of proactive measures and investments in key vulnerable sectors at both the provincial and federal level but our work is not over!

LEARN MORE about landmark events in pay equity history in both New Brunswick and Canada. Check out the links for more information.

Milestones:

December 27, 2021
Childcare agreement
   
New Brunswick

A five-year Early Learning And Child Care Agreement between the provincial and federal governments is reached. The agreement will reduce parent fees to $10 per day and increase the wages of early childhood educators by 25 per cent.

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August 31, 2021
Federal pay equity comes into force
    Canada

The federal Pay Equity Act comes into force. Concerned workplaces include the federal public service, parliamentary workplaces, and federally regulated private employers with at least 10 employees in sectors such as banks, telecommunication and interprovincial transportation.

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May 1, 2021
2nd Pay Equity Report for the Caregiving Sector
   
New Brunswick

The Coalition releases a 2nd Pay Equity Evaluation report for three other services: special care homes, family support services, and Employment and Support Service Program (ESSP). The report found that fair wages would be between $22.44 and $25.91 per hour to meet the wages of male-dominated jobs of comparable value

On
October 1, 2020
1st Pay Equity Report for the Caregiving Sector
   
New Brunswick

The Coalition releases the first Value of Care report to update pay equity evaluations conducted by the provincial government between 2008 and 2014 for four services: home support services, transition houses and community residences. According to the report, fair wages range from approximately $22 to $25 per hour.

On
February 1, 2019
ESIC recommends legislation
   
New Brunswick

The Advisory Committee on Living Wage and Pay Equity of the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation’s (ESIC) final report recommends that the government “adopt comprehensive pay equity legislation that covers employees in both the public and private sectors”.

On
December 1, 2018
Proactive Pay Equity Act
    Canada

The proactive Pay Equity Act receives Royal Assent. It will apply to the federal public service, parliamentary workplaces and federally regulated industries with 10 or more employees, such as banking, telecommunications and interprovincial transportation. However, there is no set date for the adoption of the regulations required for the Act to come into force. 

On
June 9, 2016
It's Time to Act
    Canada

The Special Committee on Pay Equity presents the report It's Time to Act to the House of Commons. It recommends that the Government of Canada repeal the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act and  "draft proactive pay equity legislation within 18 months of the tabling of this report".

On
February 3, 2016
House of Commons Motions for Committee
    Canada

The House of Commons adopts a motion introduced by the MP Sheila Malcolmson, creating a committee to hold hearings on pay equity and to propose a plan for a proactive federal pay equity regime, legislatively and otherwise. 

On
June 1, 2014
Pay Equity in Care Services in New Brunswick
   
New Brunswick

Ruth Rose, Associate Professor of Economics at the Université du Québec à Montréal, publishes the report Pay Equity in Community Services in New Brunswick. The report analyzes the pay equity program conducted by New Brunswick (2008-2012). She concludes that the methodology used by New Brunswick is flawed.

On
April 1, 2014
Results of the Study of Pay Equity in the Community Residences
   
New Brunswick

The Government of New Brunswick releases the results of a Pay Equity study in community residences. These results range from $14 to $16 per hour. However, they are still far from a truly equitable wage level because of the methodology errors raised by the Coalition.

 

On
January 1, 2013
Comment on the Reports on the Pay Equity Program
   
New Brunswick

The Coalition for Pay Equity publishes its Comments on the results of the New Brunswick Government's Pay Equity Program in the non-legislated sectors and asks the government to improve the methodology it has developed for workplaces without predominantly male jobs. 

On
June 1, 2012
Reports of the Pay Equity Program
   
New Brunswick

The Pay Equity Program that began in 2008 for child care, home support and transition house staff has finally been made public. The Coalition is challenging the results which are very low, ranging from $12 to $14 per hour.

On
February 2, 2009
Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act
    Canada

To the shock of Canadian feminist groups, Stephen Harper's minority government introduced the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act, which would make pay equity subject to collective bargaining and the marketplace. The legislation would also impose fines of up to $50,000 on unions that encourage a member to file a pay equity complaint. Fortunately, the Act never came into force.

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January 1, 2009
Pay Equity Act, 2009
   
New Brunswick

Following the Coalition's demands, the Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Mary Schryer, tabled a bill on pay equity: the Pay Equity Act, 2009. This law will apply to the public service, the education and health sectors, as well as to Crown corporations. The government adopted this law which came into force in April 2010.

 

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January 1, 2008
Pay Equity Program
   
New Brunswick

The provincial government announced that it will conduct pay equity assessments in five private sector services: child care, home support services and transition houses. Community residences will be added to the project in 2010. An election is called before the adjustments are made.

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January 1, 2007
2005-2010 Wage Gap Action Plan
   
New Brunswick

The government issues three progress reports on the 2005-2010 Wage Gap Action Plan in 2007, 2008, and 2009, but never issues a final report. Despite the lack of progress, the government does not legislate.

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June 1, 2005
Wage Gap Action Plan
   
New Brunswick

In response to the Wage Gap Roundtable, Minister Margaret Ann Blaney unveils the 2005-2010 Wage Gap Action Plan, which recommends voluntary measures for employers. The five-year action plan has four objectives

  • changing societal attitudes
  • increased sharing of family responsibilities
  • reducing job clustering among women
  • increased use of pay equity measures.

 

On
December 1, 2004
Report of the Law Amendments Committee
   
New Brunswick

The Law Amendments Committee submits its report to the Legislature. It recommends that Bill 77 not be passed, but rather that the Wage Gap Action Plan based on voluntary measures be continued. It recommends that the government legislate if there is not enough progress after five years.

On
June 1, 2004
Bill 77
   
New Brunswick

Elizabeth Weir, Leader of the New Democratic Party, introduces Bill 77, which was drafted by the Coalition for Pay Equity. The Bill was sent to the Law Amendments Committee.

 

On
January 1, 2004
Report of the Pay Equity Task Force
    Canada

The federal Pay Equity Task Force submits the report, Pay Equity: A New Approach to a Fundamental Right, to the Ministers of Justice and Labour. It shows that the protections within the Canadian Human Rights Act have been a failure, and recommends a stand-alone pay equity act.

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January 1, 2003
Report of the Wage Gap Roundtable
   
New Brunswick

Following the Wage Gap Roundtable, Minister Margaret Ann Blaney tables her report recommending five years of voluntary measures, followed by an evaluation and, if there is little progress, the implementation of appropriate legislation to reduce the wage gap.

The Coalition for Pay Equity and the New Brunswick Federation of Labour released independent recommendations calling on the government to adopt pay equity legislation as soon as possible. 

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January 1, 2002
Wage Gap Roundtable
   
New Brunswick

Margaret-Ann Blaney, then Minister responsible for the Status of Women, sets up the Wage Gap Roundtable to study the contributing factors to the wage gap between men and women.

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June 16, 2001
Founding of the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity
   
New Brunswick

The Union des femmes pour l'équité salariale was replaced by the Coalition for Pay Equity, founded on June 16, 2001.

On
October 1, 2000
World March of Women 2000
   
New Brunswick

The New Brunswick committee for the World March of Women 2000 organized a delegation to New York. It is also asking, jointly with the Women's Union for Pay Equity, for pay equity legislation from the provincial government.

On
May 23, 1998
Women’s Union for Pay Equity
   
New Brunswick

The Fédération des dames d’Acadie establishes the Women’s Union for Pay Equity on May 23, 1998.

On
January 1, 1996
The Wage Gap: Causes, Consequences, Actions Published
   
New Brunswick

The NB Advisory Council on the Status of Women (ACSW) publishes the working document The Wage Gap: Causes, Consequences, Actions.

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January 1, 1991
Report on the implementation of the 1989 Act
   
New Brunswick

The government publishes the results of the pay equity exercises completed under the Pay Equity Act in the report Pay Equity Summary of Activities of the Pay Equity Steering Committee.

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January 1, 1989
Pay Equity Act
   
New Brunswick

Frank McKenna’s government passes the Pay Equity Act, which applies to employees in Part I of the civil service (i.e. civil servants).

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January 1, 1985
Section 15
    Canada

Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on Equality Rights comes into force: “Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.”

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January 1, 1984
Equality in Employment: A Royal Commission Report
    Canada

Judge R.S. Abella releases Equality in Employment: A Royal Commission Report that makes several recommendations including: “Equal pay for work of equal value should be part of all employment equity programs”.

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January 1, 1977
Canadian Human Rights Act
    Canada

The Canadian Human Rights Act comes into force. It applies to federal jurisdiction, including the territories. Section 11 prohibits wage discrimination between male and female employees performing work of equal value.

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January 1, 1967
New Brunswick Human Rights Act
   
New Brunswick

The government enacts the New Brunswick Human Rights Act, which includes article 3(1): “No employer shall discriminate against any person in respect to employment or any term or condition of employment because of sex.”

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January 1, 1965
Same Minimum Wage
   
New Brunswick

The government enacts a law stipulating the same minimum wage for men and women.

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January 1, 1899
Robert Emmerson
   
New Brunswick

Robert Emmerson, the then Premier of NB, argues that a woman received little more than half the wages a man received for the same work and that this was discrimination.

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