Contentious wording in Ottawa's summer jobs program that tied pro-choice beliefs on abortion to funding eligibility is being dropped after a backlash to what was styled last year as a values test. Instead, the federal Liberals have retooled the 2019 version of the Canada Summer Jobs program to require applicants to declare they don't work to infringe on any Canadian's legal rights. Widening eligibility is a step towards a revamp of the summer jobs program that a government-struck expert panel called for last year. The panel's final report recommended the Liberals expand eligibility for the Canada Summer Jobs program to include those not in post-secondary studies, and make funding accessible throughout the year and not just during the summer months. "This is a really great jobs program for kids, they make some money, they get that experience, but we want to make sure it is actually resulting in quality experience."

Source: CBC News December 06, 2018 13:43 UTC