On Friday, October 22, the federal court ruled against Toronto Right to Life in our Charter challenge against the federal government’s 2018 abortion attestation on the Canada Summer Jobs program.
The attestation required us to profess support for abortion in order to be eligible for the 2018 Canada Summer Jobs program. We believe it’s unconstitutional for a variety of reasons. However, the court ruled that, although our Charter rights to freedom of religion, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression were engaged, the impairment was minimal.
Toronto Right to Life is disappointed with the ruling, and on that basis, we have filed an appeal.
In the months ahead, we will argue at the Federal Court of Appeal that it is unconstitutional for the government to compel speech that violates one’s conscience, to require that one must hold the same belief as government on an unrelated social issue in order to be eligible for funding for student summer jobs. If the government is able to compel speech and discriminate on the basis of belief, it is bad for the pro-life movement, and bad for our democracy.
We need your support in order to continue this legal battle, while also continuing our primary work of educating the public on the dignity of the human person and defending pre-born human rights. Please donate today to support this Charter challenge and our educational programs defending human rights for all human beings.
