Surrey South Liberal has called for a law that will close the wage gap between men and women.

In the legislature Monday, Cadieux 害羞草研究所� a South Surrey resident first elected in 2009 害羞草研究所� introduced her Equal Pay Certification Act, receiving unanimous support to send the bill for second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Today I introduced a bill to tackle the pay gap. thank you to these ladies for being here to observe

害羞草研究所� Stephanie Cadieux (@Stephanie4BC)

害羞草研究所淲hichever stat you use, the reality is that women are paid less than men, and the gap exists in every province, major occupational group and has only slightly improved over my working lifetime,害羞草研究所� Cadieux told Speaker Darryl Plecas, 害羞草研究所渄espite the fact that education levels for women have surpassed men, and the percentage of women in the workforce has grown from 42 to nearly 60 per cent.

害羞草研究所淎t the current rate of change, the global economic gender gap won害羞草研究所檛 be closed for another 170 years.害羞草研究所�

Cadieux cited a 31 per cent difference in earnings between working men and women in Canada, as well as a Price Waterhouse Cooper study that found gender parity in the workplace 害羞草研究所渋mproves affordability, workplace culture and the economy as a whole.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭he same study estimated that害羞草研究所� Canada would likely see a $105 billion growth in GDP if we closed the gap,害羞草研究所� Cadieux said.

Cadieux said leadership from legislators 害羞草研究所渢o help shift attitudes and behaviours害羞草研究所� is key in making gender parity in the workplace a reality.

害羞草研究所淎cknowledge that gender stereotypes and subtle sexism are a part of the problem, and challenging the status quo,害羞草研究所� she said.

If enacted, the legislation 害羞草研究所渨ould require firms to proactively rectify wage gaps on their payroll.害羞草研究所�

Applause followed the vote to give Cadieux害羞草研究所檚 bill first reading.