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

In the legislature Monday, Cadieux 乌鸦传媒� a South Surrey resident first elected in 2009 乌鸦传媒� 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

乌鸦传媒� Stephanie Cadieux (@Stephanie4BC)

乌鸦传媒淲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,乌鸦传媒� Cadieux told Speaker Darryl Plecas, 乌鸦传媒渄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.

乌鸦传媒淎t the current rate of change, the global economic gender gap won乌鸦传媒檛 be closed for another 170 years.乌鸦传媒�

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 乌鸦传媒渋mproves affordability, workplace culture and the economy as a whole.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淭he same study estimated that乌鸦传媒� Canada would likely see a $105 billion growth in GDP if we closed the gap,乌鸦传媒� Cadieux said.

Cadieux said leadership from legislators 乌鸦传媒渢o help shift attitudes and behaviours乌鸦传媒� is key in making gender parity in the workplace a reality.

乌鸦传媒淎cknowledge that gender stereotypes and subtle sexism are a part of the problem, and challenging the status quo,乌鸦传媒� she said.

If enacted, the legislation 乌鸦传媒渨ould require firms to proactively rectify wage gaps on their payroll.乌鸦传媒�

Applause followed the vote to give Cadieux乌鸦传媒檚 bill first reading.