Debate on bridging the gender pay gap resulted in a heated exchange in the Legislature between Opposition critic of Women and Gender Equality and the minister.

Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province in Canada without pay equity legislation.

Opposition critic Helen Conway Ottenheimer questioned Minister Pam Parsons on when pay equity legislation will be introduced in the House of Assembly.

The Opposition asked the minister to commit to bringing forward pay equity legislation “in this sitting.” Parsons responded by indicating that pay equity has been committed to for many years and she alluded to the rate mitigation funding that’s needed to help pay down Muskrat Falls would “go a long way to help with issues such as pay equity.”