PUNISHED FOR DEFENDING THE RIGHT TO DISSENT

  NP:  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.
   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.