Applicants’ views not required

Re: Pro-abortion link to federal funding in bad faith, Opinion, Jan. 11

I’m writing in response to Licia Corbella’s article about the government’s Canada Summer Jobs program. In it, the article implied that faith-based organizations are ineligible for Canada Summer Jobs funding.

Let me set the record straight: churches, religious and faith-based organizations are encouraged, and indeed welcome and eligible to apply. Contrary to what has been implied, applicants are not asked to provide their views, beliefs or values as these are not taken into consideration during application for the program.

The application process includes an attestation that both the job and the organization’s core mandate respect individual human rights in Canada. These include the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as other rights. For many, their “mandate” may be similar to the description of “ongoing programs” that they provide to the Canada Revenue Agency at tax time, focused on what organizations do.

Faith-based groups provide tremendous value to our communities. I encourage them, and all eligible employers, to apply by Feb. 2 to help young Canadians gain the experience they need to succeed.

You can learn more about the Canada Summer Job program at www.KentHehrMP. ca/CSJ Kent Hehr, Ottawa Kent Hehr, MP, is federal Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities