Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
May 2, 2016

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development:

Minister Congratulates NLACL on 60 Years of Advancing Inclusion

I rise to congratulate the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living on 60 years of working with and on behalf of persons with intellectual disabilities and their families to promote inclusion and support a person’s right to full citizenship within society.

The Provincial Government was happy to support this association’s 60th anniversary conference and I was pleased to have the opportunity to address participants on Friday along with my colleagues the Ministers of Justice and Public Safety and Education and Early Childhood Development.

Budget 2016 investments support inclusion through such things as inclusion resources and training, improving accessibility, helping individuals and the taxi industry acquire or adapt vehicles for accessibility, supporting recreation and sport development initiatives for persons with disabilities as well as educational and employment supports.

As minister, I will continue working with advocacy groups and community stakeholders to promote a more inclusive province and review existing legislation and regulations with the goal of enacting a new inclusion-based Disabilities Act.

With 50 per cent of our population impacted by disability, personally or through a family member, we must continue to work with organizations such as this one to advance inclusion throughout our province.

Please join me in congratulating the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living on 60 years of successes and wishing them many more.

2016 05 02                             2:05 p.m.