Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to rise today to speak briefly about literacy and the fact that today is Literacy Action Day. As you noted, Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the Northwest Territories has the lowest rate of literacy in Canada. I think we have done a good job with our children in the high schools and elementary schools in terms of providing an adequate education. I am concerned about literacy as it relates to adults, adult basic education and literacy. Mr. Speaker, very clearly in the last two years with our deficit reduction, we have not been able to put the kind of resource that are necessary toward this very important initiative. In fact, in the last three years, there have been reductions in both at the territorial and federal level while the demand for the service has gone up.
If the people are not literate, they are handcuffed, Mr. Speaker. They are handcuffed and have a disability which is easily cured with a little education and motivation on their part. It is very critical that we now look to try to reinforce these programs such as basic adult education. When I say basic adult education, I am not speaking about from grades 10 to 12. I am speaking about the people who are in need, from grades level zero to grade 10. There are a significant number of people in that area.
We have a job market opening up, but in order to be able to be competitive, people have to be literate. We have to look, as we move ahead into the 21st century, at how we can bring these people into the workforce, provide them with the skills they need through literacy programs and give support to Education, Culture and Employment to, in fact, provide that very critical service. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause