Equality and inclusion in federally regulated industries and workplaces

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Employment equity

Canadians have the right to be treated fairly in workplaces free from discrimination. Employment equity promotes equitable representation for the following 4 designated groups in Canada:

  • women
  • Indigenous peoplesFootnote 1
  • persons with disabilities, and
  • members of visible minorities

Consult the following resources to learn more:

Pay equity

Canadians have the right to experience workplace compensation practices that are free from gender-based discrimination. Pay equity aims to ensure that employers provide you with equal pay for doing work of equal value.

On October 29, 2018, the federal government introduced the Pay Equity Act (Act) in Parliament as part of Bill C-86, Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 2. The Act received Royal Assent on December 13, 2018 and came into force August 31, 2021 alongside Part II.1 of the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act and the Pay Equity Regulations.

The Office of the Pay Equity Commissioner, housed within the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC), is responsible for administering and enforcing the Act. On November 1, 2023, Lori Straznicky was appointed as Canada's federal Pay Equity Commissioner and a full-time member of the CHRC for a 5 year term.

The Act requires federally regulated employers with 10 or more employees to take a proactive approach to pay equity. This means taking a closer look at their practices and correcting gender wage gaps within their organizations. The Office of the Pay Equity Commissioner works to promote pay equity and provide support and tools to these organizations so they can fully realize pay equity in their workplaces.

For more information about pay equity, the Act, the Pay Equity Regulations, and your rights, consult the following:

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