The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Labrador Affairs:

Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this honourable house to highlight how our government is breaking down barriers for young Labrador athletes, Special Olympians and sports teams to travel to participate in provincial sporting events.

2025 is Year of Sport and it’s an important reminder to us all that encouraging and promoting physical activity at an early age improves self-esteem and well-being.

It is important to ensure all youth, regardless of where they live, have access to sport. The most recent enhancements to the Labrador Sport Travel Subsidy program levels the playing field for Labrador youth living in isolated communities along the North coast, providing individual athletes 100 per cent airfare coverage to the Goose Bay airport. That’s just one of the ways this sports travel subsidy supports young athletes who live in Labrador.

Speaker, last year we provided 100 individual grants and 55 team grants. I’m confident that this year we may even surpass those numbers.

I truly believe that sport is often the guiding light toward success for the young people of our province, and I am proud to stand today and reaffirm my commitment to helping the young athletes of the Big Land.

Thank you.