Mr. Speaker, a number of citizens from Oshawa have been writing to me. They are concerned about section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which identifies freedom of conscience, thought and freedom of belief as fundamental freedoms. They say the government must defend the rights of all Canadians, regardless of whether the current government agrees with them. They believe the current government's attestation requiring Canada summer jobs program applicants to hold the same views as the government contravene the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The petitioners call on the government to defend the freedoms of conscience, thought and belief by withdrawing the attestation requirement that still exists for applicants to the Canada summer jobs program.