COMMENT:

This Newsletter comes to you on the eve of the ABLE Workshop in Ottawa - where decisions will be made about the future of the Canada Project.

In the last few weeks we have been busy, not only preparing for the ABLE Workshop but in planning for an independent base for the Canada Project. As readers, who are also members of World Literacy of Canada, know we have also been in the process of "leaving" World Literacy as it has been difficult for that organization to raise sufficient funds to support a domestic as well as its international program. You'll notice some changes in the "head" of this newsletter reflecting this shift.

Although no one is suggesting that we should, one choice at the Workshop could be to discontinue the Canada Project, other possibilities, again not seriously being considered could be to ask an existing organization such as the C.A.A.E. or Frontier College or perhaps a government department or agency to the best of their ability, the functions of the Canada Project including publication of this Newsletter.

The Workshop is also being asked to consider and will hopefully endorse a proposal to incorporate the Canadian Project for Adult Basic and Literacy Education/Projet canadien de formation de base des adultes as an independent organization. In addition to a regionally represented Operations Committee, replacing the Steering Committee, the new organization would include an Advisory Consortium to raise sufficient funds to maintain the Canadian Project. Since the Canadian Project isn't yet incorporated, we haven't set a membership fee, so this newsletter doesn't have an application form for membership as it usually does in this space.

In its place though is a request to let us know by telephone, letter, or whatever means, before the ABLE WORKSHOP if it all possible, whether you feel that the Canadian Project should continue and what you think about the proposal to incorporate as an independent organization.

Is the time appropriate for a concerted countrywide effort to combat illiteracy by seeking to support local and regional literacy programs in accomplishing this goal?