LÉVIS, QUEBEC April 5, 2007 - Mr. Steven Blaney, M.P. for Lévis-Bellechasse, Quebec, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced funding of $17,000 for a project that will enable Alpha-Entraide des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière' (AECC) to promote its literacy services to a wider target audience.
"Canada's new government is committed to working with partner organizations across the country to help Canadians improve their literacy skills," stated Mr. Blaney. "Here, in Lévis and in the region, we are investing in a project that will be more accessible and beneficial to learners who need to improve their literacy and numeracy skills."
Under the project entitled Promo-Alpha', AECC will work with learners and other partners to produce and launch promotional material in the form of a DVD. The tool will highlight success stories of former participants in programs offered by AECC. The organization's full range of services will also be featured on the DVD. Through their involvement in the project, some 30 adult learners will have achieved higher skills in writing, reading and numeracy as well as a sense of belonging and higher confidence levels.
Literacy is much more than reading, writing and numeracy. It is the ability to understand and use printed information in daily activities. Literacy skills are essential to a good quality of life, as well as to the strength and adaptability of our national work force and the continued health of our economy.
To achieve its commitment on the literacy front, the federal government works in partnership with provincial and territorial governments as well as voluntary organizations to fund literacy projects and reach out to disadvantaged Canadians in their communities. It works with business and labour to encourage non-traditional learning in the workplace.
The federal government also delivers important investments in support of literacy and essential skills through other departments. For example, Citizenship and Immigration Canada provides support for language training for immigrants and newcomers, which is critically important to enabling them to better integrate into the Canadian work force.
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For more information (media only):
Lesley Harmer
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Monte Solberg
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
