Laurie in Question Period
Women's Equality
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On average women in Alberta earn only 70 per cent of what men make, or about $15,000 less per year. Studies have shown that by increasing female employment levels, you also increase GDP, so this is as much about economics as it is about equality. My question is to the minister of finance. What plans does the minister have to address the fact that the average income for a woman in Alberta is 30 per cent less than what a man earns?
Ms Evans: Mr. Speaker, in my previous portfolio I had an opportunity to look at many of those statistics that related to the status of women, and I’ve noted recently, while we’re looking at the investment and savings strategy, that a higher percentage of Albertans do not have pension plans, compared to the other provinces. So I’m actually gathering some information because I want to design something that will help attack this issue from a number of points of view, both in long term savings and also in those dollars for take home pay, that are today’s issue.
Ms Blakeman: That’s a good move.
To the same minister. As many women must choose to work in lower paying part time jobs in order to care for their children, what can this minister do to help mothers who want to continue their careers and stay in the workforce and be responsible to their children at the same time?
Ms Evans: Well, indeed, the number of programs across a number of other ministries actually do that sort of thing. Since I’ve been in government, I’ve been trying very hard to get people in the departments that I’ve been a part of to look very favourably at job sharing and also working from home, but as Finance and Enterprise minister we’re always looking out for other best practices so that we can enable people that come here to make valued contributions to the workforce. Many take lower paying jobs, but fortunately one of my pleasant discoveries is that many women in Alberta are leading corporations or providing outstanding entrepreneurship, are leading companies that have more than a billion dollars in profits a year.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. The next question is to the Minister of Employment and Immigration. Since all of the issues that would be captured by the phrase “women’s issues” are lumped under this minister’s portfolio now, that work being done by one single person in the department, can the minister explain why more is not being done to improve the labour shortage in our province by increasing the number of women in the workforce?
Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, I do acknowledge the fact that Alberta’s tight labour market is an ongoing challenge for employers in the province. We have various initiatives to include more Albertans to participate in the workforce, including working with women in Alberta as well as those that are facing disabilities, more senior type workers, and those individuals from the aboriginal communities. So they are part of our discussion and part of our plans to see how we can incorporate their activities in the workforce at a greater level.
Other Sections
Youth Voice
@ The Leg
Photo Blog