AS she marked her final week as an MLA after 13 years of service, B.C. Liberals’ Stephanie Cadieux spoke to her private member’s bill on pay equity during second reading in a rare moment in the Legislature. Monday’s unique debate on a private member’s bill marked a significant moment in the campaign for equal pay in B.C.

The Equal Pay Reporting Act, which Cadieux has introduced five times, would require businesses of a prescribed size to report the pay gap between their male and female employees. This encourages businesses to close the pay gap and provides support for female employees to negotiate equal wages.

The B.C. Liberals noted that every day in British Columbia, women make incredible contributions to our schools, workplaces and communities. Despite their invaluable roles, women in B.C. continue to earn 18.6 per cent less than men — the largest pay gap in Canada. Cadieux continues to call on the NDP government to expedite and adopt the legislation and finally take action to close the gender pay gap.