Not only is literacy NOT a priority for the Harper Government, but it has been abandoned. Reverse federal funding cuts!

The Issue

Cutting adult literacy funding has immediate and devastating impacts on:

- Nova Scotians’ ability to access literacy programs

- Training programs for literacy practitioners that help them meet the learning needs of adults

- Efforts to develop a highly skilled workforce in Nova Scotia.  A skilled workforce is Canada’s greatest asset.

More than 50% of Nova Scotians do not have the literacy and essential skills required to work and thrive in our knowledge-based and increasingly tech-driven society.

As our population ages, this percentage will increase. This is very bad news for Nova Scotia. 

Adult literacy programs are vital to Canadians who try to build better lives for themselves and their families. Workers need these programs to gain the essential skills required to participate in the economy. To simply cut them off doesn’t make economic or moral sense. 

avatar of the starter
Literacy Nova ScotiaPetition Starter
Media inquiries
This petition had 533 supporters

The Issue

Cutting adult literacy funding has immediate and devastating impacts on:

- Nova Scotians’ ability to access literacy programs

- Training programs for literacy practitioners that help them meet the learning needs of adults

- Efforts to develop a highly skilled workforce in Nova Scotia.  A skilled workforce is Canada’s greatest asset.

More than 50% of Nova Scotians do not have the literacy and essential skills required to work and thrive in our knowledge-based and increasingly tech-driven society.

As our population ages, this percentage will increase. This is very bad news for Nova Scotia. 

Adult literacy programs are vital to Canadians who try to build better lives for themselves and their families. Workers need these programs to gain the essential skills required to participate in the economy. To simply cut them off doesn’t make economic or moral sense. 

avatar of the starter
Literacy Nova ScotiaPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Rodger Cuzner, M.P.
Rodger Cuzner, M.P.
MP, Cape Breton - Canso
Responded
“Dear Petitioners: Thank you for your interest concerning Conservative cuts to literacy funding. You are correct that literacy is not a priority for this government. They have shown through their actions and words that they simply do not believe in the importance of essential skills and the role of the federal government in insuring Canadians have the necessary literacy and numeracy skills to be productive workers and members of society. Literacy and essential Skills are crucial for an individual’s social well-being and our country’s economic development. Essential skills provide the foundation from which other more complex skills are based. Without getting the basics right, Canadians cannot build the more advanced skills the labour force requires and the economy needs to be competitive. Studies show that almost fifty percent of adults lack the literacy skills they need to succeed in the modern economy. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce sees this as a major issue for employers as much as it is for workers. It said in a recent report, “A lack of essential skills is also holding back many existing employees who could become more productive through training.” The Liberal Party believes if Canada is going to have a strong Middle Class it must be a place where upward mobility and equality of opportunity is there for everyone. There is no single more important factor to equality of opportunity than education, including strong literacy and numeracy skills. That is why the federal government must adopt a leadership role in developing strategies to improve literacy rates and support provincial governments and local agencies that are best placed to act in this area. I will continue to advocate for a renewed strong federal leadership role in supporting literacy to insure Canadians have the literacy skills necessary to succeed personally and professionally. Thank you again for your correspondence. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have more questions or concerns or visit my website, www.rodgercuzner.liberal.ca. Sincerely, Rodger Cuzner, M.P. Liberal critic for Employment & Social Development Canada”
Honourable Peter G. MacKay, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
Honourable Peter G. MacKay, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
MP, Central Nova
Honourable Scott Brison, P.C., M.P.
Honourable Scott Brison, P.C., M.P.
MP, Kings-Hants
Gerald Keddy, M.P.
Gerald Keddy, M.P.
MP, South Shore - St. Margaret's
Peter Stoffer, M.P.
Peter Stoffer, M.P.
MP, Sackville - Eastern Shore

Petition Updates

Share this petition

Petition created on May 20, 2014