{"id":26903,"date":"2018-01-03T14:27:54","date_gmt":"2018-01-03T19:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/?p=26903"},"modified":"2021-10-07T10:55:49","modified_gmt":"2021-10-07T14:55:49","slug":"important-notice-about-the-canada-summer-jobs-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/intersection\/2018\/01\/03\/important-notice-about-the-canada-summer-jobs-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Important Notice about the Canada Summer Jobs Program"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 4 of 30 in the series Canada Summer Jobs<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Attn.: Christian Charities in Canada<\/u><\/p>\n

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  1. If you have received funding in the past but in 2018 it is denied because of your refusal to accept the government\u2019s attestation, please email (mail@cccc.org<\/a>) or call (519-669-5137) us at the CCCC office as to the next steps.<\/li>\n
  2. Please keep us informed as to the success of your application for a Canada Summer Jobs program grant for 2018. We want to keep track of the actual experience that our members have with this program.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We have received many emails and phone calls about this issue in recent days and felt it necessary to respond to the common questions we are getting to assist as many as possible.<\/p>\n

    Canada Summer Jobs Upd<\/u><\/strong>ate:  Questions and Answers<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Q:  What<\/strong> is all the fuss about the Canada Summer Jobs program?<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/strong>A:<\/strong>  As the Christian community prepared for the Christmas season, the Canadian public was notified of the Government\u2019s new policy regarding the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program.  The policy<\/a> requires employers to attest that:<\/p>\n

    both the job and the organization\u2019s 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, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.<\/p>\n

    The employer attestation for CSJ 2018 is consistent with individual human rights in Canada, Charter rights and case law, and the Government of Canada\u2019s commitment to human rights, which include women\u2019s rights and women\u2019s reproductive rights, and the rights of gender-diverse and transgender Canadians.<\/p>\n

    The government recognizes that women\u2019s rights are human rights. This includes sexual and reproductive rights \u2014 and the right to access safe and legal abortions. These rights are at the core of the Government of Canada\u2019s foreign and domestic policies.<\/p>\n

    The government recognizes that everyone should have the right to live according to their gender identity and express their gender as they choose, free from discrimination. The government is committed to protecting the dignity, security, and rights of gender-diverse and transgender Canadians.<\/p>\n

    The objective of the change is to prevent Government of Canada funding from flowing to organization whose mandates or projects may not respect individual human rights, the values underlying the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and associated case law. This helps prevent youth (as young as 15 years of age) from being exposed to employment within organizations that may promote positions that are contrary to the values enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and associated case law.<\/p>\n

    You will note that this new policy is vague. There is considerable debate about the meaning of \u201cCharter values\u201d. Even the Supreme Court of Canada has yet to provide a clear unequivocal statement as to what such \u201cvalues\u201d mean in relation to Charter rights.  (See Barry W. Bussey, \u201cThe Charter Is Not a Blueprint for Moral Conformity,\u201d https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/abstract=3032525<\/a>, especially the section \u201cCharter \u2018Values\u2019: A Poor Substitute For Law,\u201d at page 393-411)<\/p>\n

    One justification of the policy is that it is meant to protect the youth from \u201cexposure\u201d to organizations that promote ideas contrary to Charter values. This is a troubling characterization of organizations that do not adhere to the government\u2019s positions on such issues as abortion and sexuality.<\/p>\n

    For example, many Christian organizations, such as churches and summer camps, hold a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage position. A literal reading of this policy would prevent churches, summer camps, soup kitchens, and many other Christian and religious charities from having access to the Canada Summer Jobs program.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Q: I<\/strong>s CCCC taking action in terms of formally responding to the federal government?<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/strong>A:<\/strong>  Yes, CCCC has expressed its concern with the policy through its blog<\/a> and op-ed writing<\/a>. CCCC has also written a letter of concern<\/a> to Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.<\/p>\n

    Additionally, CCCC is networking with a group of lawyers, church leaders, and other concerned individuals from across Canada to consider the appropriate response to this government policy.<\/p>\n

    Q: What can churches and charities do to voice their concern?<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/strong>A:<\/strong>  Pray, express concern, contact MPs.<\/p>\n

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    1. First, pray<\/strong> for wisdom to do and say the right thing. We must continue to express our views in a spirit of peace, speaking truth in love.<\/li>\n
    2. Second, express your concern<\/strong> to government through all the avenues open to you \u2013 by letter, email, social media, etc. Charities, including local churches, have every right to voice their concerns to government about the new policy. Doing so does not violate CRA guidelines about registered charities\u2019 expressing their opposition to government policy that affects their charitable operations. It is important to be respectful yet clearly express why this new policy will have a negative impact on your organization.<\/li>\n
    3. Contact your MP<\/strong>; doing so is important and effective. As we saw in Fall 2017, when the government planned to remove s.176 from the Criminal Code, the constant pressure applied to government saw them change their mind. The same could work here.Every Canadian ought to be troubled by this development. To make government benefits subject to agreement with government ideology is beyond anything we have seen in our history<\/u><\/strong>. To see this being done so blatantly is unprecedented.If you don\u2019t know who your MP is, find that person here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Q:  Should we apply for a CSJ grant for 2018?<\/strong><\/p>\n

      A:<\/strong>  Absolutely. You will find that when you apply online<\/a> and check the \u201cno\u201d box on the attestation, your application will be voided.  Therefore, I recommend that you use the paper process.<\/p>\n

      The Paper Process<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

      The paper process allows you to put in the margin a note describing your position and interpretation of the attestation requirement.<\/p>\n

      If you decide to apply, check the box “I attest” so that you are in agreement with the general attestation, but then use the margin, next to the third bullet, cross out that third bullet and write “see attached letter” or “see attached attestation” explaining why you cannot attest to that bullet point.  (See the sample attestation below).<\/p>\n

      When you look at the Attestation at paragraph 22 of the Application Form there is not a place to check “no” to the the specific concern that you have regarding the core mandate and Charter rights (which is bullet three of the Attestation).  When you “Attest” you are attesting that:<\/p>\n

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