The new legislation – An Act to Establish a Proactive Pay Equity Regime within the Federal Public and Private Sectors (Pay Equity Act) –and the amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) and the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act (PESRA) will bring about a dramatic shift in how the right to pay equity is protected in federally regulated workplaces. It will direct employers to take proactive steps to ensure that they are providing equal pay for work of equal value.
Provides information on the dispute resolution procedures available to employees.
Repeal the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act.
Establish that Pay Equity regulations made under the legislation that apply generally to government departments will also apply to parliamentary entities. To respect parliamentary privilege, any regulations made pertaining to transfers and to enforcement of orders will not apply to parliamentary employers and employees.
Direct pay equity complaints made against an employer covered by the new Pay Equity Act to the complaint regime set up under that Act and clarify that any such complaints filed before the new Pay Equity Act is brought into force will continue and be resolved under the CHRA.