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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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