The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills:

Speaker, everyone deserves the opportunity to obtain employment.

That is the purpose of our Supported Employment Program, which is essential in promoting inclusivity and expanding opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to find meaningful work.

This past year, we invested $10 million in the program, providing resources and services that helped more than 650 individuals participate in meaningful employment.

Individuals like Brock Pittman, who is currently watching from the public gallery. Brock is a second-year student studying political science at Memorial University and today is my mentee through Avalon Employment and MentorAbility NL. He was looking for a mentor in politics.

Initiatives like this open doors and create opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to thrive as valued members of our workforce.

We fund the Supported Employment Program because it is a compassionate approach, but also because it empowers people and makes our economy more productive.

Speaker, I urge my fellow MHAs to support this program, and to consider mentoring individuals within our communities, someone like Brock Pittman. Together, we can continue building a more inclusive Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you.