A subsidized packaging business in Brampton that has been employing workers with intellectual disabilities for decades closed its doors on Friday, Nov. 30.

Norpak Custom Packaging, located at 46 West Dr., was a division of Brampton Caledon Community Living (BCCL) and was forced to shut down after 43 years in operation.

According to its website, the company "provides a supportive work environment where people can have a meaningful day participating and learning skills that will contribute to the promotion of people to community based employment.”

“As parents of an adult with an intellectual disability, we know that Norpak has been a safe place where our son and many others are proud to work, happily interact with peers, develop social skills, make lasting friendships (and) participate in meaningful work that supports local industry,” Christine and John Kentner told the Brampton Guardian, adding the program serviced approximately 50 people with a wide range of intellectual challenges.

The Kentners said the program included up to 70 participants up until a year-and-a-half ago, but has been slowly cut back after a decision by the province a few years back.

In 2015, the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services under the Kathleen Wynne Liberals announced it would stop funding and shut down “sheltered workshops” like Norpak. The decision, they said, was in response to concerns from advocacy groups comparing such operations to sweat shops.

At the time, director of the ministry's community supports policy branch Barbara Simmons told the Toronto Star, “it's a new era for this fantastic population to realize their full potential."

However, according to the Kentners, whose son Evan worked at Norpak part-time for a few dollars per hour before it was shuttered, it was never about the money and they never looked at the program as taking advantage of their son as low-wage labour.

“The minister of Children and Social Services, Helena Jaczek, failed to properly and fully look into this situation and thus allowed the (sweat shop) misconception to go unchallenged,” wrote the Kentners in an email.

“People with intellectual disabilities who have been employed for 20 to 30-plus years are now without a job, no longer going to work, earning a paycheque, being part of the community (or) making friends in a safe environment,” they added.