Pay Equity Lessons from Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Since its passage in 1989, the Ontario Pay Equity Act has remained arguably the most extensive equal pay legislation in the world and is in many ways unique. It must be noted straightaway that nearly ten years of implementation of this law has not significantly reduced a still relatively large wage gap.¹ However, the Ontario experience with this statute offers some insights into the strengths and weaknesses of such initiatives, which could help those in other jurisdictions, particularly in member states of the European Union, to shape more effective pay equity processes.