About HRSDC | Our Offices | Programs & Services | A-Z Index FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OTTAWA, ONTARIO — The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced funding of almost $ 23 million for 252 literacy projects across Canada . These projects will help thousands of Canadians to improve their literacy skills—skills that will help them find and keep meaningful employment. “I am pleased to make this announcement on Literacy Action Day. Literacy is the foundation for lifelong learning and plays a vital role in the lives of Canadians. Higher literacy levels result in a better quality of life through reduced poverty, lower unemployment, and a more competitive and productive work force,” said Minister Volpe. “ T he Government of Canada will continue in its efforts to raise the literacy levels of Canadians, in partnership with the provinces and territories, community-based literacy organizations, the business sector, and unions.” “ These investments will bring tremendous benefits to both learners and to Canadians as we begin to reap the benefits of a more literate work force,” said the Minister. The Government's efforts to raise literacy levels are in keeping with its commitment to ensure that all Canadians have access to the skills development and learning opportunities they need to realize their potential and participate fully in the 21st-century economy. The Department's National Literacy Secretariat (NLS) is funding the 252 literacy projects . As the Government of Canada's focal point for sharing information and expertise on literacy issues in Canada , the NLS acts as a catalyst for literacy action, working with many partners to find innovative ways to improve the literacy skills of Canadians, increase public awareness, and advance literacy research. The projects involve literacy initiatives within the workplace, community and family settings. They will be developed and delivered by business and labour organizations, community literacy organizations and training and skills development institutions, and target a wide range of populations across the country. These projects have been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grant and contribution programs, and are subject to review under the Financial Administration Act. - 30 - For more information: Stephen Heckbert Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Joe Volpe, P.C., M.P. (819) 994-2482 Media Relations Office Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (819) 994-5559 The Government of Canada's role in Literacy Action BACKGROUNDER Globalization and new technologies have brought about profound changes in the workplace and have given rise to a need for higher skills levels and greater demands placed on employees. Consequently, Canadians have to be more skilled in reading, writing, counting and computing to compete for jobs in today's market. Canada's economic performance and productivity depend on the ability of its workforce to respond to new challenges. Literacy is the foundation of lifelong learning and enables full participation in the workplace and society. Higher literacy levels result in a better quality of life through reduced poverty, lower unemployment, and less public assistance. Indeed, studies have shown that increased literacy levels have an immediate impact in reducing health care and other social costs. The Role of the Government of Canada in Literacy Action The Government of Canada recognizes that literacy skills and lifelong learning are essential factors in ensuring that Canadians have access to the skills development and learning opportunities needed to realize their potential and participate fully in the 21st-century economy. Investing in our citizens is the best investment that we, as a nation, can make. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) makes significant investments to strengthen literacy through programs, research, awareness, and partnerships. For example: The National Literacy Secretariat works with other federal departments, the provinces and territories, business and labour, and non-government organizations, to increase awareness of literacy, share information, advance research, improve access to literacy programs, and develop learning material; The Essential Skills and Workplace Literacy Initiative helps workers, employers and literacy practitioners assess learning needs and develop tailored approaches to workplace literacy and essential skills; The National Literacy Secretariat, in partnership with Bow Valley College, has developed an assessment tool, the Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) to measure reading text, document use and numeracy skills in the workplace; and The Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy and the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership support skills development of Canada 's Aboriginal workforce, to ensure they are equipped to fully participate in the workplace and the community. A number of other federal departments also make targeted investments to help learners to build on skills required for work and learning: Correctional Service Canada provides adult basic education for federal inmates and promotes portability of this learning to the community; Citizenship and Immigration Canada partners with service providers to deliver basic, labour-market specific language training for adult immigrants; Industry Canada's Schoolnet helps young Canadians develop information and communication technologies skills; Canadian Heritage supports research to examine the literacy profiles of official language minorities as well as recent and established immigrants; As part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada supports essential employability skills through the First Nations and Inuit Career Promotion and Awareness Program; and Social Development Canada invests in early childhood development and early learning and child care. Community-based Literacy Services In Canada, the majority of literacy services are carried out by community organizations. Voluntary groups, school boards, community colleges and First Nations organizations use volunteers and paid staff to provide individual, small group and classroom literacy instruction to people with low literacy skills. Literacy in the Workplace Literacy has become an important issue for business and labour. Canadians with strong literacy skills have better paying jobs and are less likely to become unemployed than those with lower literacy levels. While education plays a significant role in the development of literacy skills, literacy levels can be maintained and even improved in the workplace, long after the completion of formal education. Research findings Overall, Canada performs well internationally on measures of education and skill. However, many adult Canadians' literacy and other essential skills are insufficient to allow them to fully participate in the global economy and society. The 1994 International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), conducted by Statistics Canada and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), showed that over 40 percent of Canadians between the ages of 16 and 65 had very low or limited literacy levels. A new survey, the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS), is currently underway to assess prose and document literacy as well as numeracy and problem solving skills. Results from the survey, expected to be released in 2005, will provide an updated picture of literacy and other essential skills in Canada . The survey will also help us to better understand Canadians' learning needs in the knowledge-based economy. For further information on literacy in Canada, please visit the National HRSDC Web site at: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/hip/lld/nls/Resources/ild.shtml or the National Adult Literacy Database at: http://www.nald.ca - 30 -
