Important Notice about the Canada Summer Jobs Program

Attn.: Christian Charities in Canada

1. If you have received funding in the past but in 2018 it is denied because of your refusal to accept the government’s attestation, please email (mail@cccc.org) or call (519-669-5137) us at the CCCC office as to the next steps.
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.

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.

Canada Summer Jobs Update:  Questions and Answers

Q:  What is all the fuss about the Canada Summer Jobs program?

 A:  As the Christian community prepared for the Christmas season, the Canadian public was notified of the Government’s new policy regarding the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program.  The policy requires employers to attest 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, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

The employer attestation for CSJ 2018 is consistent with individual human rights in Canada, Charter rights and case law, and the Government of Canada’s commitment to human rights, which include women’s rights and women’s reproductive rights, and the rights of gender-diverse and transgender Canadians.

The government recognizes that women’s rights are human rights. This includes sexual and reproductive rights — and the right to access safe and legal abortions. These rights are at the core of the Government of Canada’s foreign and domestic policies.

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.

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.

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

One justification of the policy is that it is meant to protect the youth from “exposure” to organizations that promote ideas contrary to Charter values. This is a troubling characterization of organizations that do not adhere to the government’s positions on such issues as abortion and sexuality.

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.

Q: Is CCCC taking action in terms of formally responding to the federal government?

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

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.

Q: What can churches and charities do to voice their concern?

 A:  Pray, express concern, contact MPs.

1. First, pray 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.
2. Second, express your concern to government through all the avenues open to you – 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’ 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.
3. Contact your MP; 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. To see this being done so blatantly is unprecedented.If you don’t know who your MP is, find that person here.

Q:  Should we apply for a CSJ grant for 2018?

A:  Absolutely. You will find that when you apply online and check the “no” box on the attestation, your application will be voided.  Therefore, I recommend that you use the paper process.

The Paper Process

The paper process allows you to put in the margin a note describing your position and interpretation of the attestation requirement.

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).

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:

It seems to me that Christian organizations could, with a clear conscience, indicate an assurance that they do comply with all Charter obligations and Human Rights legislation in Canada. That is the law in any event. The law, as it currently stands, supports religious communities to self-define their community.

Human rights legislation provides Bona Fide Occupational Requirements (BFOR). BFOR grant religious organizations the ability to associate and choose their community, which includes the right to hire employees who are in keeping with the religious mission/obligations of the organization.

Here is an attestation that has been used by other organizations in their paper filing that you may choose to use (or amend as below) in your application:

On the basis of conscience, we are unable to express the words that the Minister has required in the Applicant’s Guide. We are, however, able to attest that “we support all Canadian law, including human rights law.” We believe the Minister does not have the jurisdiction under law to compel us to make a statement that conflicts with our conscience rights under the Charter. Nor does the Minister have the right to compel speech as a condition of receiving a financial benefit from the government of Canada. We respectfully decline to make a statement that is inconsistent with our fundamental personal beliefs about the value of life and the right to life under section 7 of the Charter. Please confirm that you will accept our application with the above-noted statement in substitution for the statement set forth in the online application process and in the Applicant’s Guide.

Please feel free to make this sample attestation applicable to your organization.  For example, you may want to amend it as below:

On the basis of religious conscience, we are not prepared to express the words that the Minister has required in the Applicant’s Guide. We attest that we are committed to upholding our obligations under all Canadian law, including human rights law. We believe the Minister does not have the jurisdiction under law to compel someone to make a statement or adopt a belief, especially one that conflicts with our religious conscience under the Charter as a condition for receipt of funding. Nor does the Minister have the right to compel speech as a condition of receiving a financial benefit from the government of Canada. We respectfully decline to make a statement that is inconsistent with our fundamental constitutionally protected personal beliefs including those about the value of life and the right to life under section 7 of the Charter, and about the freedom of religion as guaranteed in s. 2(a). Please accept our application with the above-noted statement in substitution for the statement set forth in the online application process and in the Applicant’s Guide.

When you send in your application, send it by registered mail so that the government has to sign that they received the documentation.

Q.      Who is focused on protecting the churches and Christian charities of Canada’s charitable status?

 A.      You can be assured that CCCC is committed to doing all that we can to ensure that there is a favourable legal environment in which Christian charities in Canada can operate. Such an environment includes maintaining the charitable status of churches and other religious charities in Canada.  

Q.     How can we collectively rally together to have a singular voice against this obvious attack on religious freedoms?​

A.      With each crisis, the Christian community is coming together and pooling resources to ensure that we have an effective response. We, along with other Christian ministries, are meeting to discuss this very thing. It may well be that it is best for us to maintain our respective voices but come together publicly in moments like this. Thank you for your continued support.

Q.  How can we keep informed on these developments?

 A.   I encourage you to subscribe to our Intersections Blog by adding your email to our list.  (Be sure to have ONLY your email address with no extra spaces or it will not work).  Then you will need to confirm your subscription by clicking on the link in your Inbox.