The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour:

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Mr. Speaker, March 18-24 is Multiculturalism Week, when we celebrate the province’s rich diversity of cultures and the contributions of residents of all backgrounds.

I invite all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to decorate their homes and businesses with multi-coloured lights, a tradition that began in Labrador West and has since been adopted by communities throughout the province.

Multiculturalism Week begins this Sunday with the 19th annual Sharing Our Cultures at The Rooms. The event features 60 high school presenters and welcomes more than a thousand students, teachers, volunteers and people from diverse backgrounds. This year’s theme is Music, Dance, Stories.

Earlier today, I was pleased to announce funding for 19 additional Multiculturalism Week events, a key commitment in The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador, the province’s collaborative immigration action plan. These events celebrate intercultural understanding through activities such as film screenings, musical performances, networking events and more. They will take place in communities from Labrador City, to St. Anthony, to Port aux Basques, to St. John’s.

Our government recognizes the critical role diversity plays in the province’s cultural, social, and economic growth. Our commitment to attracting and retaining more newcomers is strong and I am pleased to note that many priority actions in our immigration action plan are implemented or ongoing.

I ask my Honourable colleagues to join me in encouraging everyone to participate in all events that will take place next week and experience the joy of welcoming new people, cultures and ideas to our province.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.