FEWO Committee Report
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Ms. Hedy Fry Dear Ms. Fry: Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, I am pleased, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to respond to the recommendations contained in An Analysis of the Effects of the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act, the Seventh Report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women tabled in the House of Commons on June 16, 2009. The Government of Canada respects the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. The Government strongly believes that the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act is the best means to proactively apply this principle to ensure that federal public sector employees receive equitable compensation. The Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act makes pay equity an integral part of collective bargaining and wage-setting in the federal public sector. This approach ensures that all parties with responsibilities in wage-setting are accountable for achieving equal pay for work of equal value and that employees receive equitable compensation from the moment wages are set. In addition, moving to an approach that is based on collaboration with bargaining agents rather than the current adversarial process ensures that pay equity will be addressed in a manner that is less confrontational and more conducive to effective labour relations. Certain elements of the Act’s regulatory regime must be set out in regulations before the Act can be brought into force. This is expected to occur by 2011. In the course of developing the regulations, the Government is committed to appropriately and meaningfully consult key stakeholders, including federal public sector employers and bargaining agents representing public sector employees. The coming into force of the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act will ensure that equitable compensation will be a constant and continuous requirement in wage-setting for federal employees. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to thank the Committee for its Report and for the opportunity to respond. Sincerely,
Vic Toews, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
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