Pontiac Ouest Catholic parishes object to Canada Summer Jobs requirement

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Peter L. Smith

L’ISLE-AUX-ALLUMETTES – The deadline to apply for the Canada Summer Jobs Grant (CSJG) funding is now over and the Pontiac Parishes of the Pembroke Diocese have chosen not to apply because of a new attestation requirement.

Peter L. Smith

L’ISLE-AUX-ALLUMETTES – The deadline to apply for the Canada Summer Jobs Grant (CSJG) funding is now over and the Pontiac Parishes of the Pembroke Diocese have chosen not to apply because of a new attestation requirement.
Point 12 on the 2018 application form states:  “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 or sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.” This point must be checked for the application to be complete.
Reverend Tim Moyle, parish priest for St. Alphonsus Ligouri (Chapeau), St. Paul the Hermit (Sheenboro) and St. Joseph parish commented: “It’s not about the politics; it is about the morality behind the issue. I spoke with Will Amos who encouraged us to apply, but after our discussion he was aware why we could not.”
Moyle had hoped for three summer students to digitalize older baptism, marriage and death records, plus perform work on the Church grounds and cemetery.  Reverend Réal Ouellette, priest of five parishes including St. Pierre parish in Fort Coulonge, mailed in the application but did not check the attestation box. He attached a letter stating why he was opposed to their policy.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement on the issue: “Faith communities consider abortion, sexual orientation and gender equality or expression as major questions with ethical, moral, social and personal bearing which determine our understanding of human dignity and the appreciation for the meaning and significance of each and every human life. This new policy conflicts directly with the right to freedom of religion and conscience which are also enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.” They further noted this policy could force summer camps to close, and that services of numerous non-profit organizations could be reduced and valuable opportunities for apprenticeship lost.
Another regular applicant to the program, the Pontiac Historical Society, did check the attestation box. President, Christopher Seifried said, “We were happy to agree to the terms and conditions of the Canada Summer Jobs program.  We find the grants to be extremely helpful in delivering our program, to preserve and make available local history, through our museum in Shawville.”
Pontiac M.P. Will Amos spoke on behalf of the Government of Canada, and explained the attestation box was added this year due to concerns that funding from the Canada Summer Jobs program had been used in the past to undermine the rights of Canadians. Amos gave examples of organizations that distributed graphic images of aborted fetuses or held rallies blocking access to clinics offering abortions.
Amos emphasized that all local organizations, including religious and faith-based ones, add tremendous value to our communities: they are encouraged, welcome and eligible to apply.