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Issue #47

September 2006

Federal Funding Cuts

The recent cuts announced by the federal government include a $17.7 million cut to funding for literacy-$5.8 million this year (2006/07) and $11.9 million in 2007/08. The government will concentrate on national and federal programs and withdraw support for provincial, regional and local programs and partnerships.

In Ontario, the provincial government, through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, funds the delivery of direct service to adult literacy learners, so our core funding is not affected by these cuts. However, the cuts will have a serious impact across the country on the infrastructure that supports delivery: outreach to potential learners, professional development for educators, research, development of curriculum and materials, and the networking and information services provided by partnerships of national, regional and provincial organizations.

The Conservative government's objectives include fiscal responsibility, economic growth, productivity and global competitiveness. Abundant research has shown that investment in adult literacy is money well spent:

  • Research from Statistics Canada (2005) shows that an investment in education is three times as important to economic growth over the long run as investment in physical capital such as machinery and equipment.
  • Another Statistics Canada study has shown that educating the least educated has a greater impact on GDP than increasing the skills of those with higher literacy skills.
  • A 2005 report from the C.D. Howe Institute states that raising a country's literacy score by 1% relative to the international average is associated with a 2.5% relative rise in productivity and a 1.5% rise in national income per person.

In this United Nations Decade of Literacy (2003-2012), Canada remains one of the few industrialized countries without a national literacy strategy. Funding cuts to literacy are a big step backwards.

Calendar

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Sept. 8   - International Literacy Day
Sept. 27 - craft workshop, 1-4 pm
Sept. 27 - Board meeting
Sept. 28 - student yard sale
Oct. 21  - Tutor training
Oct. 25  - Smart Serve workshop
Oct. 25  - Board meeting
Oct. 27  - craft workshop, 1-4 pm
Nov. 22 - Board meeting
Nov. 24 - craft workshop, 1-4 pm
Nov. 25 - Tutor training
Dec. 13 - Christmas party