Earlier this year, there was significant concern among religious groups regarding the Canada Summer Jobs Grants program. The 2018 requirements for accessing government funds to hire summer students had a negative impact on many Canadian charities. 

Several faith-based organizations objected to the 2018 requirements, stating that they were an infringement on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, recent changes to the 2019 requirements addresses this infringement. 

Julia Beazley, director of public policy for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), states, "Our primary concern with last year’s attestation was that it was, in effect, a values test. And that values test was an infringement on the Charter-guaranteed freedoms of conscience, thought, belief, opinion and expression. While there are still restrictions on the kinds of jobs or activities that can be funded under the program, that values test is gone.” 

The Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada (EMCC), along with our affiliate partner, the EFC, are pleased with the recent changes to the 2019 Canada Summer Jobs attestation and eligibility criteria for employers and projects. 

The EFC believes the 2019 Summer Jobs guidelines is a is a significant improvement. As stated in this article, published on December 7, 2018, “The restrictions are limited to the student employment activities rather than the values of the employers.” 

For more details on the changes to the Summer Jobs Grants program, and an ongoing list of resources on this topic from the EFC, please visit their website.

The following is the 2019 Canada Summer Jobs attestation and the eligibility criteria for employers and projects:

Attestation

1. I have read, understood and will comply with the Canada Summer Jobs Articles of Agreement;
2. I have all the necessary authorities, permissions and approvals to submit this application on behalf of myself and my organization;
3. The job would not be created without the financial assistance provided under a potential contribution agreement;
4. Any funding under the Canada Summer Jobs program will not be used to undermine or restrict the exercise of rights legally protected in Canada.

Eligibility Criteria

Ineligible Employers:

• Members of the House of Commons and the Senate
• Federal Government Departments and Agencies
• Provincial and Territorial Departments and Agencies
• Organizations that engage in partisan political activities

Ineligible Projects and Job Activities:

• Projects consisting of activities that take place outside of Canada;
• Activities that contribute to the provision of a personal service to the employer;
• Partisan political activities;
• Fundraising activities to cover salary costs for the youth participant; or
• Projects or job activities that:
• restrict access to program, services, employment or otherwise discriminate, contrary to applicable laws, on the basis of prohibited grounds, including sex, age, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, colour, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression;
• advocate intolerance, discrimination and/or prejudice; or
• actively work to undermine or restrict a woman’s access to sexual and reproductive health services.