The New Democrats are giving “a failing grade” to the latest Liberal budget when it comes to ensuring equal pay for women.
Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Sheila Malcolmson told the House of Commons the budget doesn’t do enough to focus on pay equity, lacks funding for universal childcare and doesn’t reform EI requirements that she says discriminates against women.
Over 40 years ago, and again in 2016, the #Liberals promised #payequity. But still, no legislation has been tabled in @ourcommons & there is zero funding for the implementation of pay equity in #Budget2018. Women are #donewaiting! #cdnpoli #canfemhttps://t.co/zMIMc7J5Ji
— Sheila Malcolmson (@s_malcolmson) April 17, 2018
Gender equality and a national pharmacare plan were two of the cornerstones of the federal budget released in February.
The budget, for the first time in Canadian history, went through a full gender-based analysis, with considerations of how every budgetary measure would impact men, women, boys and girls in different ways. Age, ethnicity, income and disability were also taken into account.
READ MORE: Liberals champion their values in 2018 budget aimed at long-term vision
“While the prime minister claims he’s a feminist, he’s failed to act on the most pressing facing woman in Canada,” she said.
On Tuesday, Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef responded to the New Democrat’s criticism, saying the NDP report contains “inaccuracies and omissions.”
With files from The Canadian Press
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ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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