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To meet new demands, the Government of Canada will consider actions in a number of areas including:

• Workshops on "best practices" in areas such as workplace-based skills development, literacy, skilled trades and e-learning.
• Try to assure that within five years, the number of adult learners increases by one million
• Try to assure the number of adult Canadians with low literacy skills is reduced by 25 percent over the next decade.

Our government states that Knowledge Matters: Skillls and Learning for Canadians is intended to act as a catalyst for discussion on skills and learning. It invites all Canadians to work together to develop a common understanding of the challenges we face in order that me may create a plan of action to get us where we want to be.

All stakeholders are invited to participate in the discussion and to work together to develop a common understanding of the challenges so that we can build a shared vision and move towards that vision.

An Executive Summary of the green paper is available at http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/stratpol/sl-ca/doc/summary.shtml

The enclosed special issue of Federal Literacy Facts published by the Movement for Canadian Literacy (MCL) summarizes MCL's analysis of the Green Paper and their strategy for follow-up.

Gilda's Club - An Important Name to Know

So much of one's health and well-being depend on being well informed. We know that people who participate actively in their treatment and have access to research, services and information have better long-term outcomes.

Literacy providers are often a very important resource for their students who may not otherwise have access to services and information. Tutors and teachers can help their learners by helping to close the gap created by print information.

Now in its second year, Gilda's Club/Maison Gilda Radner is one of these services, and literacy providers can once again be instrumental in informing their students of its existence. The Club is located in downtown Montreal and is easily accessible by metro.

The mission of Gilda's Club is to provide a place where people with cancer, their families and friends, can join with others to build social and emotional support as a supplement to their medical care.

Free of charge and non profit, the non-residential facility offers support and networking groups, lectures, workshops and social events in a home-like setting.

Please pass this information on to your tutors, teachers and learners. Information: Contact Romy at Gilda's Club (P.) (514) 937-3636, Ext. 227 (F) (514) 937-6226