[37] Bill 183 Original (PDF)
Bill 183
Bill 1832000
An Act to establish
real equality for women
in the Province of Ontario
and to provide the
essential benefits required
to promote equal access
to opportunity
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
Equality for women
1. In order to establish real equality for women in the Province of Ontario and to provide the essential benefits needed to promote equal access to opportunity for women, the Government of Ontario shall,
(a)move towards the reality of pay equity with equal pay for equal work as outlined in existing legislation;
(b)ensure that existing laws are complied with;
(c)introduce one-year paternity leave for new parents;
(d)address the problem of violence against women and implement the emergency measures introduced by the Cross-Sectoral Violence Against Women Strategy Group;
(e)reinvest in the essential services for women such as health care, counselling, legal aid, neighbourhood and community supports, emergency shelters, crises lines and second stage housing; and
(f)promote equality of women in Ontario so that gender, race, ethnicity, economic status or educational attainment do not provide a barrier to employment opportunity.
Commencement
2. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
Short title
3. The short title of this Act is the Women's Equity Act, 2000.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The purpose of the Bill is to establish real equality for women in the Province of Ontario and, to provide the essential benefits needed to promote equal access to opportunity for women, the government of Ontario should, (a) move towards the reality of pay equity with equal pay for equal work as outlined in existing legislation; (b) ensure that existing laws are complied with; (c) introduce one-year paternity leave for new parents; (d) address the problem of violence against women and implement the emergency measures introduced by the Cross-Sectoral Violence Against Women Strategy Group; (e) reinvest in the essential services for women such as health care, counselling, legal aid, neighbourhood and community supports, emergency shelters, crises lines and second stage housing; and (f) promote equality of women in Ontario so that gender, race, ethnicity, economic status or educational attainment do not provide a barrier to employment opportunity.