Gender equality
Québec is seen as a model in the field of gender equality.
Over the last forty years, major progress has been made in the area of equality between men and women, under the leadership of pioneering groups of women who, by their actions, have helped and continue to help achieve the goal of legal equality for women and men.
Québec’s new policy on gender equality, Pour que l’égalité de droit devienne une égalité de fait (“From legal to actual equality”) sets out the actions that must be taken over the next ten years. It defines six guidelines to help combat the persistent inequality experienced by women and to promote equality-based relationships:
- the promotion of egalitarian models and behaviour patterns;
- economic equality between women and men;
- the balancing of family and professional responsibilities;
- the adaptation of health care services to the specific problems experienced by women;
- respect for women’s physical integrity and safety in all living communities;
- participation by women in decision-making processes.
Pay equity
The principle of pay equity goes beyond the idea of “equal pay for equal work”, since it also requires “equal pay for different, but equivalent, work”. Pay equity defines the right of individuals in predominantly female jobs to receive the same pay as individuals in predominantly male jobs that are equivalent, in other words of the same value.
Because of systemic discrimination, some aspects of the work performed by women are not fully rewarded in terms of pay, a situation that explains some of the pay gap between men and women. To correct the problem, the Québec government passed the Pay Equity Act, which came into force in 1997.
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Same-sex couples
In Québec, two people who wish to make a public commitment to live together, regardless of whether they are of the same or the opposite sex, can marry or form a civil union. However, it is important to note that the Civil Code of Québec states that “No minister of religion may be compelled to solemnize a marriage to which there is any impediment according to his religion and to the discipline of the religious society to which he belongs.”
It is now commonplace, in Québec, for two people to decide to live together without forming a marriage or civil union. Although the Civil Code of Québec does not in general govern the situation of de facto spouses, consider de facto spouses, of the same or the opposite sex, as forming a couple. This is the case, in particular, for the legislation governing employment assistance (welfare), legal aid, income tax, the Québec Pension Plan and workplace injuries.
Because discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited by the Charter of human rights and freedoms, the adoption of a child under the responsibility of Québec social services by a same-sex couple is not prohibited.
For more information…
(Department of Families and Seniors)
(Department of Justice)
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