10/07/2026
Women's History Month is a time to recognize both the progress made and the work still ahead on pay equity in Canada.
Across Canada, women still earn less than men on average. Recent federal data shows women earn about 87 to 89 cents for every dollar earned by men, meaning the gender wage gap remains a real issue in Canadian workplaces.
One place the gap is consistently smaller is in unionized workplaces. Collective agreements, transparent wage grids, and negotiated benefits help ensure workers are paid fairly for the job they do. According to the Canadian Labour Congress, using Statistics Canada data, unionized women earn about 34% more per hour on average than non-unionized women.
Those gains matter in public services like the fire service, where union contracts establish clear pay structures, equal pay for the same rank and job, and protections that help prevent discrimination in wages and working conditions.
Progress on pay equity in Canada has come from workers organizing, bargaining, and pushing for fairness on the job.
This Women's History Month, we recognize the women in the fire service and the labour movement whose work, and advocacy, continues to move that progress forward.
