Ted Falk, Member of Parliament for Provencher, wrote a letter to the Minister of Employment, Patricia Hajdu, demanding that the Liberal Government back down on their changes to the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program.
In the days leading up to Christmas, the Trudeau Liberals quietly changed the rules of the CSJ program to require applicants to sign an attestation agreeing with their government’s ideological positions or be rejected for government funding.
This year, in order to be eligible for funding through the program, an applicant is required to agree that both the job and the organization’s core mandate respect individual human rights in Canada, including the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as other rights. These include “reproductive rights” and the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, colour, mental or physical disability or sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
While it’s easy to agree with most of this statement, the Liberals are overstepping by forcing Canadians to endorse values that aren’t actually included in the Charter, such as ‘REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS’ – or in plain words: ABORTION.
“This is an extremely concerning development and Canadians should be deeply skeptical of a government that is basing funding decisions on whether or not you hold the same beliefs and values as they do,” said Falk. “As a pluralistic society, Canada allows for diverse opinions and protects those who may think differently than those in positions of power. In fact, the right to freedom of belief and opinion is guaranteed by the Charter. For all their talk about being the ‘Party of the Charter,’ the Liberals should be the first to recognize that they’re violating its most fundamental principle with their actions,” stated Falk.
The CSJ program provides funding to assist employers, including not-for-profit organizations, that create summer job opportunities for full-time students. Students benefit by gaining valuable employment and work experience and communities benefit from the important services provided by these organizations. However, for many organizations in southeast Manitoba, this essential support will be held back because of this new Liberal policy.
“If the Liberals are forcing Canadians to pass their ‘values test’ in order to receive CSJ funding today, what’s next?” added Falk. “Will Canadians have to agree with Liberals’ views to get their pensions when they retire? To receive certain tax credits or student loans? To get help with their Employment Insurance when they visit a Service Canada centre? Where will it end?”
Falk is urging organizations effected by this discriminatory Liberal change to submit their application anyway with a brief note explaining that in good conscience they are unable to sign the attestation. He is also encouraging his constituents to contact the Minister of Employment as well as the Prime Minister to let them know that they disagree with these dangerous changes.
