I am pleased to rise in this House today and update my honourable colleagues on the success of the Opening Doors Program.

This program has evolved over the past 12 years to become a very successful and unique public sector employment equity initiative for persons with disabilities.

I am delighted to report that Opening Doors has created over 55 permanent positions that are attached to various provincial government departments and funded through an annual budget of $1.5 million. These are long-term positions which can only be filled by persons with disabilities.

These 55 employees are scattered throughout the province working in such positions as word processing equipment operators, computer programmers, technicians, analysts, public information officer, statistical officer, mail room clerk, and micro-graphic technician.

The Opening Doors Program has formed four partnerships between provincial and federal departments and agencies to further improve the representation of persons with disabilities in the public service at both levels of government. These positions are funded by the federal partners involved in these initiatives.

Our provincial program serves as a recruitment agency for the Public Service Commission of Canada through a partnership called JEEPS.

The result is that not only has the Opening Doors program been very successful in increasing the number of persons with disabilities in the provincial public service, but an additional 50 persons have obtained positions with the federal public service in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Although some of those jobs were for temporary positions, they are often extended and the individuals are given the opportunity to gain valuable work experience making them more competitive in future job competitions.

I am also pleased to report that Opening Doors is now entering the third year of partnerships with Human Resources Development Canada and the province�s Department of Human Resources and Employment.

Another 42 persons with disabilities, have gained meaningful employment in either the federal or provincial public service through the wage subsidy program offered through these two partnerships.

Opening Doors also has a partnership with the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work involving an annual commitment from the council of $54,000. That funding has established the Opening Doors Career Development Centre as the Provincial WorkInk Site. WorkInk provides online employment resources for job seekers with disabilities.

The Opening Doors Centre also serves as a resource for persons with disabilities helping them prepare resumes as well as prepare for the all important job interview.

I also point out that persons with disabilities living outside the St. John�s area can access the services and programs of the centre from their home communities through the advancements in technology.

I encourage all my honourable colleagues to visit the Opening Doors Career Development Centre for Persons with Disabilities located on the 5^th floor of the West Block of Confederation Building. The six staff people at the Centre will provide you with information about the services and programs and you will view some of the new hi-tech equipment available to assist persons with disabilities in carrying out their work.

It is because of this centre of excellence and its partners that the provincial and federal public service in Newfoundland and Labrador are now more representative of the public they serve. People with disabilities in this province now have more opportunities to find positions in the public service and have better access to employment and professional development services.

2000 05 04                                             1:50 p.m.