RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO REMOVE ABORTION ATTESTATION REQUIREMENT – Intersection Show Episode 002
Host Barry Bussey interviews Philip Milley (Associate Director at the Canadian Council of Christian Charities) on the recent updates surrounding Canada Summer Jobs Government Funding controversy.
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Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Contrary to the federal Liberals’ claim of “sunny days” ahead for Canada. A dark curtain is lowering on our pluralistic democracy where the Charter of Rights of citizens who are people of faith, are being trampled on. This Government of Canada decision is a demonstration of bigotry against people of faith. May government officials please do the right thing and remove this “value-subtracted” attestation. Then, it will be sunny days for everyone, not just the people the government happens to agree with.
I wish CCCC would have instead encouraged churches and Christian charities to NOT apply at all for the summer jobs grants this year. I think that would have sent a clearer and stronger message, standing together to oppose what the government has done. It’s too confused now. There are already many churches or organizations that have submitted applications, some as you advised by paper with separate cover letters, and some having just checked the attestation box online anyway. This move by the government has divided the unity of believers.
Hi Andrew,
Thanks so very much for your comment and concern. There is no question that this has created some division. Here is how we approached this matter. First, there are two issues. One, the ability of our members to receive money from the CSJ program but to do so only if they can with a clear conscience. That is why we suggested that bullet 3 of the attestation requirement be crossed out. There is no guarantee that the government will grant the application with the crossed out bullet point. Two, there is the issue of the government requiring the attestation to begin with which is in and of itself wrong. Second, we are aware that many of our members want to do ministry without fighting a lawsuit over the government’s position. So we navigated this as best we could under the circumstances keeping conscience and constitution in their proper place. Thanks again for expressing your position – a valid point.