Alberta couple files Charter challenge over government’s Summer Jobs ‘values’ attestation
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Published:
May 1, 2018
Updated:
May 1, 2018 7:43 AM EDT
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Patty Hajdu. (CP)
An Alberta couple has filed suit against the federal minister of employment alleging the application process to qualify for the Canada Summer Jobs program violates their Charter rights.
Rhea Lynne Anderson and William Anderson refused to check the “I attest” box on their application to receive a summer worker at their family-owned agricultural irrigation business, according to a release from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.
The box asks applicants to express agreement with the liberal government’s views on abortion, sexuality and more.
The federal government’s new attestation requirement reads: “Both the job and my organization’s core mandate respect individual human rights in Canada, and 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.”
The Andersons submitted their application without checking the “I attest” box and received a response from Service Canada within a month.
“The signatory must check the ‘I attest’ box to confirm eligibility and add his/her initials next to the box,” the response reads.
In an affidavit submitted with the filing, Rhea Anderson said the family’s business complies fully with human rights legislation but refuses to be compelled to agree with the government’s values.
“Agreeing or disagreeing with abortion, or with a man’s ‘right’ to be called a woman if he thinks that he is a woman, has nothing to do with the purpose of Canada Summer Jobs,” Justice Centre president John Carpay said in a release.
Alberta couple files Charter challenge over government
Postmedia News
More from Postmedia News
Published:
May 1, 2018
Updated:
May 1, 2018 7:43 AM EDT
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Patty Hajdu. (CP)
An Alberta couple has filed suit against the federal minister of employment alleging the application process to qualify for the Canada Summer Jobs program violates their Charter rights.
Rhea Lynne Anderson and William Anderson refused to check the “I attest” box on their application to receive a summer worker at their family-owned agricultural irrigation business, according to a release from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.
The box asks applicants to express agreement with the liberal government’s views on abortion, sexuality and more.
The federal government’s new attestation requirement reads: “Both the job and my organization’s core mandate respect individual human rights in Canada, and 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.”
The Andersons submitted their application without checking the “I attest” box and received a response from Service Canada within a month.
“The signatory must check the ‘I attest’ box to confirm eligibility and add his/her initials next to the box,” the response reads.
In an affidavit submitted with the filing, Rhea Anderson said the family’s business complies fully with human rights legislation but refuses to be compelled to agree with the government’s values.
“Agreeing or disagreeing with abortion, or with a man’s ‘right’ to be called a woman if he thinks that he is a woman, has nothing to do with the purpose of Canada Summer Jobs,” Justice Centre president John Carpay said in a release.
Alberta couple files Charter challenge over government