According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), women in Manitoba make $0.71 for every dollar a man makes on average, resulting in them taking until April 4, 2024 to make the same income as male colleagues did the previous year. Racialized women, in particular, face even greater disparities with Indigenous women earning $0.58 on the dollar compared to a white man, and women of colour earning $0.59 on the dollar. These numbers have remained relatively unchanged over the past 30 years, contributing to Manitoba’s last-place ranking among all provinces for gender equality. Molly McCracken, Manitoba Director of the CCPA, highlighted how women’s unequal earnings impact poverty rates among women, lower rates of labor force participation, and concentrated child poverty in single-parent, predominantly female-headed households.
McCracken emphasized that 60% of minimum-wage workers are women, with the current minimum wage being considered a poverty wage as it falls below the living wage of $19.21 per hour. This situation hinders women from improving their economic status and getting ahead, especially if they are working multiple minimum-wage jobs. She called for the expansion of childcare spaces, raising the minimum wage to a living wage, and providing more education and training opportunities to help women advance their education as potential solutions to address the pay gap and related issues. McCracken also stressed the importance of implementing measures to prevent discrimination, harassment, and violence in the workplace, pointing out that while Manitoba was a leader in the 1980s with the introduction of pay equity legislation, it only covers the public sector and has not kept up with legislative advancements in other provinces.
A Probe Research poll revealed that 78% of Manitobans support the need for tougher pay equity laws to ensure that women are paid the same as men for work of equal value. The minister responsible for gender equity, Nahanni Fontaine, mentioned the introduction of a pay transparency act by Malaya Marcelino during the NDP’s time in opposition, as well as commitments to increase $10-a-day daycare. Fontaine stated that achieving equal pay for women is a priority for the current government, and efforts are underway to conduct jurisdictional scans and engage with stakeholders to potentially introduce legislation in the near future. Fontaine expressed a commitment to addressing pay equity issues and ensuring equal pay for women in Manitoba, reflecting the government’s determination to tackle gender disparities in the workforce.
As discussions surrounding pay equity and gender equality continue in Manitoba, there is a growing recognition of the need for legislative measures to address the wage gap between men and women. Despite past initiatives such as the introduction of pay equity legislation in the public sector, the existing gaps in pay equity laws and protections highlight the urgency for further action to ensure fair compensation for women in the workforce. With the support of the public and advocacy groups like the CCPA, there is a push for the government to prioritize pay equity and implement comprehensive strategies to eliminate gender-based disparities in pay and improve economic opportunities for women in Manitoba. Through a combination of policy changes, increased access to education and training, and efforts to promote a more equitable work environment, progress can be made towards achieving equal pay for women and advancing gender equality in the province.
