Emotional debate in the House of Assembly yesterday as elected members spoke on a personal level about the importance of establishing a Disability Advocate position.

Members debated the bill creating the new role in the House yesterday.

Estimates are that up to 32 per cent of the population is living with a form of disability.

Jeff Dwyer, the Member for Placentia West-Bellevue, has a son with a disability. He was one of many MHAs who spoke passionately about the importance of a disability advocate.

He shared that the overwhelming thought of every parent of a child with a disability is “what’s going to happen to my child, if something happens to me?”

“After living this life, you will not understand…the immense pride I had listening to the debate today in that chair” he said choking back tears “it made a difference.”