(July 19, 2022) – Helen Conway Ottenheimer, PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Women and Gender Equality and MHA for Harbour Main, says women in Newfoundland and Labrador have had enough of broken promises from the Liberal Government on pay equity legislation.

“I am disappointed that the Liberal government has not given pay equity any serious attention, ignoring it for three straight years without a meeting. I am troubled that it took a question in the House for pay equity to return to the forefront of discussion. Four separate Ministers have done nothing outside of lip service to an issue effecting every woman in Newfoundland and Labrador. It’s time for these Ministers to do their job,” said Conway Ottenheimer.

“The Premier has ignored the issue, the Minister Responsible has only deflected the issue, the Justice Minister has been silent, and the Deputy Premier, who is a former Minister for Women and Gender Equality, has only made excuses for not getting pay equity legislation done. It’s time for the Premier to step in and direct his Liberal Government to bring pay equity legislation to the House of Assembly.”

Conway Ottenheimer reacted to media reports and an access to information response that demonstrated the interdepartmental pay equity committee did not meet for three years, only resuming meetings after she asked questions about the issue in the House of Assembly. More than that, there was no agenda and no minutes kept for the meeting, according to media reports.

“Newfoundland and Labrador continues to be the only province in Atlantic Canada which does not have pay equity legislation. Despite the Liberals endorsing a 2017 Private Members Resolution calling for Pay Equity Legislation, despite making specific reference to pay equity in the Minister’s mandate letter, the Liberal Government continues to sit on its hands and do nothing,” said Conway Ottenheimer.

“There have only been two meetings since I brought up the issue in debate, and multiple Ministers continue to avoid committing to the needed legislation. I believe that it is time the Premier steps in and finally steps up for the women of this province by implementing pay equity legislation.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca