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PayEquityStatementDec092009
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA - Susan Russell, Executive Director of the Canadian
Federation of University Women (CFUW) was present in support of Pay
Equity this afternoon at the House of Commons. Pay Equity is one of
the recent battle grounds for women's rights in the ongoing war for
equality with the Harper government. The CFUW calls upon all
Members of Parliament to support two private members bills before
the house that seek to re-instate the simple idea of equal pay for
equal work. This is a human rights issue.
Bill C-248, (An Act to implement the recommendations of the Pay
Equity Task Force), was introduced by the NDP Women's critic,
Irene Mathyssen this February, and Bill C-471, (An Act
respecting the implementation of the recommendations of the Pay
Equity Task Force and amending another Act in consequence), was
introduced this fall by Liberal Leader, Michael Ignatieff, and will
enter second reading this evening. These bills seek to implement
the recommendations of the 2004 Pay Equity Task Force
Report.
These bills are reactions to the "Public Sector Equitable
Compensation Act" found in the Conservative's 2009 Budget
Implementation Act. This restricted the scope of pay equity so that
fewer women are entitled to it and relegated pay equity for public
servants to the bargaining table; taking Pay Equity out of the
realm of human rights and preventing women from taking complaints
to the Human Rights Commission. Why should women have to
bargain for their human rights?
The CFUW calls upon all Parliamentarians to defend the
fundamental right of Pay Equity, implement the 2004 Task Force's
Recommendations and ensure that the government be held accountable
for these measures. The CFUW would like to see the Minister
of Labour be accountable for this, and report to the House of
Commons on the progress of pay equity in this country.
CFUW is a non-partisan, voluntary, self-funded and
non-governmental organization of women university graduates and
students in 112 Clubs across Canada, who are working to improve the
status of women and girls, education, peace, justice and human
rights. CFUW holds special consultative status at the United
Nations (ECOSOC) and serves on Sectoral Committee on Education of
the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. CFUW is the largest of 79
national affiliates of the International Federation of University
Women (IFUW).
For More Information Please Contact:
Sam Spady
Advocacy and Communications Coordinator
Canadian Federation of University Women
613.234.8252 x 106
cfuwadvocacy@rogers.com
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