Faith-based groups across Canada are facing huge losses after being rejected for a Canada Summer Jobs grant because they refuse to sign a controversial attestation to "respect reproductive rights," including abortion.
According to the Toronto Star, many faith-based groups who have applied for summer jobs grants are now in limbo even though their applications have been approved in previous years.
This year, the Liberals added stipulations that the jobs being funded, as well as the core mandates of the groups applying for grants, must respect reproductive rights.
The government said that the new stipulations were made after some officials heard that money that was supposed to go to the popular jobs program was used to pay students to protest outside abortion clinics or have students create and distribute graphic anti-abortion pamphlets.
Applicants for grants are required to check the "I attest" box and sign the document to be eligible for the program.
Some faith-based groups tried to cross out some of the controversial wording or refused to check the box confirming their agreement to the stipulations.
North Pointe church tried to raise objections to the new stipulations by providing a cover letter saying it would uphold Canadian law, including human rights law, but questioned the additional wording in the declaration and asked the government to accept the application with the words in the letter substituting for the wording in the application.
Service Canada, however, wrote back to the church, saying the declaration "cannot be altered or modified" and that the "I attest" box needed to be checked.
Some groups have submitted their application along with a cover letter asking for accommodation for their beliefs.
"The reason you require this particular attestation of us is not entirely clear," one letter from a Catholic group stated.
"We have no difficulty attesting that we will operate in accordance with the law and the rules of the program at all times. If there is some reason you require further assurances of us, please advise us why this is the case," it continued.
Employment Minister Patty Hajdu has defended the new policy, saying many faith-based groups have been fine with signing the attestation and the government will still help fund up to 70,000 student jobs this summer.
Religious groups are hoping for a negotiated solution, rather than legal action, but at least one pro-life group has already filed a Federal Court challenge.
