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OTTAWA — The NDP has punished one of its MPs for voting his conscience, against party lines, on a motion condemning the Liberal government’s new requirements for Canada Summer Jobs grants.

David Christopherson will no longer serve as deputy chair of the powerful procedure and House affairs committee, a decision made this week, the party confirmed Friday.

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Although the party was hesitant to confirm a link, the move appears to be a direct consequence of Christopherson’s decision earlier this week to vote against the rest of his caucus and support a Conservative motion.

The motion protested a new funding prerequisite that groups applying for Canada Summer Jobs grants attest, by checking a box on the application form, that their core mandate respects rights and freedoms, including abortion rights.

Many faith-based organizations have said they cannot agree to the attestation in good conscience because of their personal beliefs, even if their “core mandate” has nothing to do with anti-abortion activism. The Conservative motion argued that all non-political, non-activist groups should be eligible for federal money, whether or not they agree with the attestation.