APPOINTMENT OF CANADA’S NEW FEDERAL PAY EQUITY COMMISSIONER: FULL STEAM AHEAD ON ADVANCING PAY EQUITY!
On June 27, 2023, Minister of Labour Seamus O’Regan Jr. announced the appointment of Lori Straznicky as Canada’s new federal pay equity commissioner. She will be appointed to the role at the Canadian Human Rights Commission effective November 1, 2023, for a term of five years. Ms. Straznicky stepped in as interim commissioner in November 2022, providing oversight in the Government’s work to strengthen pay equity in Canada.
As Minister O’Regan highlighted:
“Lori Straznicky will help us achieve pay equity and close the gender wage gap in federal workplaces. She’s done great work as interim Pay Equity Commissioner and I know she’ll keep delivering in her new official role”.
Working within the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Ms. Straznicky will continue to lead a dedicated unit responsible for:
• assisting stakeholders and bargaining agents on pay equity issues
• investigating complaints related to contravention of the Pay Equity Act, and
• educating employers on their obligations under the Act.
Building upon the significant progress achieved during her interim role, Ms. Straznicky will persist in her efforts to further reduce the gender wage gap in federally regulated workplaces.
Canada’s Pay Equity Act, which came into force on August 31, 2021, creates a proactive pay equity regime that will ensure that women and men working in federally regulated workplaces (in both the public and private sectors, parliamentary workplaces, the Prime Minister’s office and ministers’ offices) receive equal pay for work of equal value. The Pay Equity Act will reduce any gender wage gaps in federally regulated workplaces that exist due to the undervaluation of work traditionally performed by women.