(Ottawa – March 8, 2024) This International Women’s Day, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) celebrates the achievements of women academic staff and urges the federal government to expand investments to programs that promote gender equity.

There are still barriers for women in post-secondary education, particularly Indigenous women and women from equity-deserving groups.

Gender pay gaps are still a persistent feature of universities and colleges in Canada. The 2021 census shows that women university teachers are paid 84 cents on the dollar of their male peers, on average. Women college instructors are paid 85 cents on the dollar.

Last year, the federal government did not renew funding for the Dimensions pilot program to help Canadian post-secondary institutions increase equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in research. CAUT had urged the government to extend funding for this initiative.

CAUT continues to call on the federal government to invest in expanding the collection of equity data to help fill information gaps in the post-secondary sector that currently limit evidence-based decision-making.

CAUT also supports recent labour movement calls to change Employment Insurance rules to ensure that new parents are not denied parental leave benefits in the event of a lay-off – an issue that disproportionately affects women in the workplace.

As academic staff celebrate the collective gains made towards gender equity, CAUT remains committed to the pursuit of justice for all women.