Literacy

  1. As a first step, a working group will be formed by January 2006 to ensure further discussion and dialogue among all parties. The OLC will take the lead, contingent on funding.
  2. Research and development, a strategic plan and an environmental scan will be completed by January 2007.
  3. The OLC will continue to fill curriculum gaps and make curriculum relevant to each community.

Other Workplace/Workforce Development Groups

  1. Model must be sustainable; too many programs change over time.
  2. Involve all stakeholders; get them to buy in and take ownership of the issue.
  3. Keep sight of the Labour Market Development Agreement and its impact.
  4. The OLC should take a leadership role in helping employers identify needs, for example, market and skill changes.
  5. The OLC should involve others in the collaborative work, i.e., other provinces as well as the Deaf, Native and Francophone and literacy communities.
  6. Three principles:
    1. Good models exist; they need to be adapted but we are not starting from scratch.
    2. Sustainable solutions involve partnership
    3. Diversity requires flexibility.
  7. We need a cross-sectoral steering committee to develop a strategy for a regional model for literacy in Ontario.

Discussion

The final discussion, led by Glen, indicated that sector groups shared a fairly consistent vision of next steps.

The OLC responded to proposals that it assume an ongoing role by stating that it had already submitted a proposal to the National Literacy Secretariat (NLS) to hold a similar symposium in each of four provincial regions as well as an additional one in Toronto. Although several groups felt strongly about the need for a multi-party working group, the OLC stated it wanted to conduct more research before bringing all the stakeholders on board. In order to put forward the best case to the government, the OLC stated they need to clarify the vision and develop specific proposals that business and labour can sign on to.