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"The Need for a Partnership Approach to the Literacy Challenge"

Notes for an address by the
President of the Privy Council and
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
the Honourable Stéphane Dion

at the opening ceremony of the
symposium Éducation et avenir commun : les enjeux du prochain millénaire

Montreal (Quebec)

September 9, 1999

 

Until the 20th century, illiteracy was the ordinary lot of humanity, except for the elite. Considerable progress has been made over the past century. As the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Federico Mayor, stated in 1997: "Thanks to the constant and sustained efforts of all concerned, the tide of worldwide illiteracy is turning: the illiteracy rate, estimated at 45% 50 years ago, has fallen to 23% today. Considerable progress has therefore been made."

Last July, for the sixth year in a row, our country was ranked number one on the United Nations Human Development Index, which takes account of the literacy rate and education spending, among other factors. Canada also gets good marks with respect to postsecondary education, according to The World Competitiveness Yearbook 1999, which ranks it number one out of 28 countries in terms of postsecondary enrolment.

But despite these impressive achievements, our country still faces a major challenge with respect to illiteracy. This is an especially disturbing phenomenon in Quebec, which has the second highest illiteracy rate in the country, after Newfoundland, among 16 to 25 year-olds, according to a 1996 Statistics Canada study. La Fondation québécoise pour l'alphabétisation estimates that 900,000 adult Quebecers are currently affected by this problem. Barely 2% of them are taking part in literacy initiatives.

Another Statistics Canada survey on Quebecers' literacy skills, conducted in 1995, revealed that 1.5 million adult Quebecers, or 28%, lack the basic skills or strategies needed to decode or use written materials.

At the Canadian level, the International Adult Literacy Survey, conducted in the fall of 1994, revealed that more than one in five adult Canadians have serious difficulty dealing with printed materials, and that only 22% can deal with material that is simple and clearly laid out.

The consequences of illiteracy are easy to imagine in terms of the economic, democratic and social costs. At the individual level, illiteracy renders people prone to marginalization, prejudice and poverty. In Quebec, around 51% of those considered to be illiterate have an individual income of less than $10,000 a year. At a broader level, illiteracy prevents a sizeable portion of our population from achieving their true potential and fully contributing to the collective well-being.

Illiteracy is thus a major problem in our society. The solution lies above all in forging partnerships between governments, organizations and the private sector.

And this is what the federal government is doing, through Human Resources Development Canada, which is responsible for the National Literacy Secretariat (NLS). Since 1988 -- when Mr. Bouchard, in his capacity as the Secretary of State, had the ultimate responsibility for the literacy issue at the federal level -- the NLS has undertaken to "work with the provinces, the private sector and voluntary organizations to develop measures to ensure that Canadians have access to the literacy skills that are prerequisite for participation in an advanced economy." To advance the cause of literacy, the NLS is strengthening its partnerships with the provincial and territorial governments, business, labour, and volunteer groups. Of special note is the contribution of organizations such as La Fondation québécoise pour l'alphabétisation, which works closely with 250 regional organizations.

In 1999-2000, total federal literacy funding stands at $28.6 million, of which $13.8 million will be transferred to the provinces. In partnership with the provincial government, $5.3 million will be invested in literacy in Quebec in 1999-2000. Under an agreement signed in 1989-1990 between the governments of Canada and Quebec, the province will receive at least $3 million a year. Quebec also receives additional funding through national projects.

The Government of Canada has a clear commitment to act as a facilitator in support of literacy efforts. Direct funding for literacy services or continuous learning is a provincial responsibility. To give one example, Canada Post supports literacy programs throughout the country through libraries, educational and correctional institutions, community and job centres, and families. Another example: in December 1998, the NLS and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council announced a joint $2.5 million 5-year initiative, Valuing Literacy in Canada, to fund strategic research on adult literacy issues.

Our government believes that partnerships are the key to the literacy challenge. These partnerships are already in place; our task now is to strengthen them. This is how illiteracy can be beaten. Productive initiatives are being undertaken in all sectors, including the private sector. Domtar's association with this symposium is an eloquent testimony of that.

In this context, an event such as this one takes on even greater meaning. It is an opportunity for business and labour leaders, educators and community representatives to come together to discuss the impact of illiteracy on our society and to work together to develop strategies that will advance the cause of literacy.

An information-based, globalized economy requires a highly literate workforce. More than ever before, that workforce will be a competitive edge for the industrialized nations and the key to success in today's knowledge-based economy. The social costs of illiteracy are enormous. This issue touches all Canadians, and it is through partners such as yourselves that we will be able to overcome this challenge.

Have a great symposium!

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Last Modified: 1999-09-09  Important Notices