Ken WerbiskiThe federal government's decision to require groups applying for federal funding toward summer jobs to sign an attestation respecting reproductive and same-sex rights has raised concerns that religious freedoms are being undermined.

Portage-Lisgar Liberal riding association spokesperson Ken Werbiski says that's not true, and the focus is limited.

"If a religious organization is going to hire a summer student to work in the office or run a summer camp, then they should go right ahead and do that," he says, "If your sole purpose is to attack the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and challenge abortion rights and the rights of same-sex people, then you do not deserve public money to do that."

Werbiski says there's no attack on religious freedoms.

"I don't know whether it was misinformation that was passed around," he says, "Or lack of information that was passed around, but it is all about education. If we are clear about what is allowed, and what is not allowed, then I think it's pretty simple after that. But when you have others that are jumping up and down, and waving their arms, and saying that's not the way it works after you have made it fairly clear, that's where the confusion comes in."

The deadline for applications is February 9th.