Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on this theme day of literacy, I would like to take a few minutes to talk about the concept of reduce, reuse and recycle for literacy.
A few weeks past, Mr. Speaker, I challenged my colleagues to lose some weight this spring by donating books and magazines to the Yellowknife Correctional Centre Library book drive.
Mr. Speaker, I have some good news and some bad news. I will start with the bad news first. Many MLAs have not yet taken the opportunity to reduce the number of books and magazines in their homes and donate them to the YCC for reuse. However, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that some MLAs have recycled the idea, and suggested similar approaches for increasing library materials in other correctional institutions in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, numerous studies over the years indicate that one of the factors determining whether a person will succeed in life is directly related to literacy. More and more jobs require basic literacy, whether to read safety instructions, a list of work to be performed for the day or completing reports and forms. Personally, Mr. Speaker, I believe the capacity to read well in any language is the most powerful tool one can have.
I can tell you that through reading, I have personally experienced a sense of total empowerment and feeling of wholeness as a person. I have led my way out of sadness into utter joy and solved virtually all questions about life. Reading is the most powerful thing.
Mr. Bill Chipman, the organizer of the YCC book drive, says while he has received numerous donations, inmates read these materials over and over again and they quickly get worn out.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage you, my colleagues and members of the public who have novels, current magazines, National Geographic, Readers' Digest or reference materials to contact Bill Chipman at Yellowknife Correctional Centre, 669-8620, or a similar person in an institution in your community, and donate your excess books.
You will not only be losing some weight, you will be giving the gift of literacy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause