The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) is lobbying the province to name a minister for the Status of Women.

The AFL says Alberta women continue to suffer inequality, especially in the workplace.

Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL, Nancy Furlong says on average women in the province make 72 cents for every dollar a man earns. Ironically, women with university degrees make 67% of what men with similar degrees command.

Furlong says that puts Alberta behind Canada, which is also lagging worldwide, currently sitting at the same level as Turkey and Mexico.

The AFL says giving women an institutional voice would ensure the province doesn’t fall even further behind. Alberta is the only jurisdiction in Canada that does not have that kind of representation.

iNews880, Thurs Mar 17 2011