The Member of Parliament for Provencher says he is disappointed and surprised by the outcome of Monday night's vote on Parliament Hill.

The Conservatives put forward a motion to change the application form for the Canada Summer Jobs Program. In order to qualify for funding, organizations have to check a box on the form, indicating they support reproductive rights such as abortion. The motion read as follows:

"That, in the opinion of the House, organizations that engage in non-political non-activist work, such as feeding the homeless, helping refugees, and giving kids an opportunity to go to camp, should be able to access Canada Summer Jobs funding regardless of their private convictions and regardless of whether or not they choose to sign the application attestation."

(Provencher MP Ted Falk)The motion was defeated 207 to 93 with all but one Liberal in attendance voting against the motion. All Conservative MPs in attendance voted in favour.

"It was disappointing to only see one Liberal Member of Parliament vote in favour of respecting the Charter," says Ted Falk. "And to see all the other Liberal Members of Parliament vote against freedom of thought, against freedom of belief, because that's really what it is."

Falk says through casual conversations with Liberal Members of Parliament, he knows there are some who do not agree with the attestation, but who are not prepared to break rank with the Prime Minister. He expected a few more Liberal Members of Parliament would vote with their conscience.

"Canadians are guaranteed the right to be free from discrimination by their government on the basis of their thought, belief and convictions," says Falk. "This is something that is a blatant violation of the Charter."

Falk says this is just the beginning of a very dangerous path when governments implement attestations or a values test in order for people to be eligible through safe government funding.

"That now is a very good example where the Liberal government has turned into 'thought police'," says Falk. "Not only is it not your actions that determine whether or not you get funding, it's actually what you really think about it, is also going to determine whether or not you are eligible."

According to Falk, more than 1500 organizations from across the country were unwilling to sign the new discriminatory attestation and have received notices that their applications have been rejected. And Falk says the Conservatives learned Monday that even if an organization checks the application box, but then communicates their disapproval, their funding will be rejected.