Pay equity legislation is important, but that alone will not close the gap for women. Affordable and accessible child care will.

EXCERPTS

There were a lot of old ghosts haunting the Liberal government when it tabled its budget on February 27. But have these spectres brought change to women’s lives this International Women’s Day? Not likely.

The budget announced proactive pay equity for workers in federally regulated sectors (banking, communication, transportation, Crown corporations). It’s hoped that with new legislation, the gender wage gap can be reduced, albeit slightly, so that women earn 90.7 cents for every dollar that men earn, up from 88.1 cents, in those industries alone.