Faith-based groups welcome to apply

Re. “Summer job ideology test pits Charter rights against each other,” Paula Simons, Jan. 17

I’m writing in response to Paula Simons’s video column, in which she implied that faith-based organizations are ineligible for funding through the federal government’s Canada Summer Jobs program.

Churches, religious and faith-based organizations are eligible, welcome and encouraged to apply. Faithbased groups add tremendous value to our communities, much of which is focused on compassion and helping those most in need in our society.

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, including the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as other rights.

We are committed to ensuring that summer jobs for young Canadians funded by the Government of Canada respect everyone’s rights, as well as existing laws, including human rights law and labour law, to which public, private and not-for-profit organizations are already subject. Amarjeet Sohi, MP for Edmonton Mill Woods and minister of Infrastructure and Communities