The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Helen Conway Ottenheimer, Minister of Justice and Public Safety:

Speaker, correctional staff across Newfoundland and Labrador are important members of the justice system and our communities. They work in difficult circumstances every day in supporting some of the province’s most vulnerable people.

May 3 to 9 is recognized as Corrections Week. This week aims to acknowledge the contribution of correctional staff in facilitating rehabilitation and making communities safe. The complex world of corrections demands far more than security services. It requires empathy and compassion as they provide an integrated and supportive service to those individuals in our correctional facilities.

While there are plenty of challenges, we also know that the job can be very rewarding. Staff have an opportunity to work with inmates and help them make changes and grow into contributing members of society.

Speaker, correctional staff show their commitment not only on the job, but in the many contributions they make to their communities through various community events and initiatives. Their efforts have a direct, positive impact on all of us.

I ask all members of this Honourable House to join me in recognizing Corrections Week in this province and sincerely thank everyone who works in our corrections system for their hard work and continued dedication. Thank you, Speaker.