I rise today to recognize Newfoundland and Labrador�s volunteer and non-profit sector given that Sunday, December 5 was International Volunteer Day. In 1985, the United Nations General Assembly established International Volunteer Day to commemorate the contributions and dedication of volunteers worldwide. Volunteers from this province are major contributors to organizations that do work all over the world. This year�s recognition day is also significant as it marks the launch of the 10th anniversary of the 2001 International Year of Volunteers.

Our province has approximately 197,000 volunteers who give 35 million hours of their time each year to their communities. This government appreciates the tremendous contributions of the volunteer and non-profit sector. That is why this past summer we launched a campaign recognizing their efforts called the Who Cares? campaign.

This campaign profiles and celebrates the incredible work being done by men and women, young and old in communities large and small all across Newfoundland and Labrador. Work that makes our neighbourhoods stronger, that defines our communities and makes our province the wonderful place it is.

Like International Volunteer Day, the Who Cares? campaign is designed to give the community-based and non-profit sector the recognition they deserve and say thank you to the thousands of volunteers and workers who are making a difference in our communities every day. It shows how the volunteer and non-profit sector positively impacts each and every one of us. Furthermore, it will educate the public about the real value and importance of the sector to our society.

The campaign is aimed to reinforce the importance of the volunteer and non-profit sector in people�s minds and motivate them to act � either volunteer themselves or thank someone who does. On the website, WhoCaresNL.ca, we have been profiling volunteers from across the province as well as giving visitors to the site the opportunity to thank a volunteer or non-profit organization for their contributions.

The volunteer and non-profit sector is instrumental to our province�s prosperity and overall community health. It is filled with amazing people who work tirelessly and proudly to strengthen our communities. It is an amazing story that needs to be told � one that we need to share more often. Recently, we have heard many stories of communities coming together after this province was devastated by Hurricane Igor this past September. Volunteers were crucial in the recovery efforts in the affected communities. I would like to say a huge thank you to all those who volunteered their time, talent and hearts during this time. You are true heroes.

I ask that all honourable members and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians take the time to thank a volunteer for their tremendous efforts, not just on International Volunteer Day, but any day of the year.

2010 12 06                                                      2:10 p.m.