The follow statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable John Hogan, KC, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General:

Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission.

Everyone has the right to a life of equality, dignity, and respect.

In the late 1960s, our province passed its first human rights code, joining a generational movement as Canada led the world in the advancement of human rights. This code made us the first Canadian jurisdiction to prohibit discrimination based on political opinion, and the second to ban sex discrimination in the workplace. Then, in 1974, legislation was passed to create a permanent provincial human rights commission to administer this code.

Since then, the Human Rights Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador has championed an impactful mandate that includes resolving complaints, educating the public, raising issues of public importance, and working closely with community partners.

The work of the commission benefits all of us, and I urge anyone who feels discriminated against to reach out for guidance and support. For information and updates on events marking its anniversary, visit thinkhumanrights.ca. The staff are truly a great resource and strive to make our province a more inclusive place to live.

I ask all Honourable members to join me in congratulating the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission on its 50th anniversary and thank its staff, past and present, for their contributions to our province.