Mr. Speaker, I cannot overstate the importance of literacy for the North. Over the past decade we have made excellent strides in increasing literacy rates. Now, more than ever before, youth and adults across this territory have the skills and abilities they need to fully participate in the social, economic and political development of the Northwest Territories.

However, even with this success, we still face a serious challenge. We still need to emphasize the importance of literacy and to ensure that all Northerners with literacy needs have access to programs and services that strengthen their skills. Last June, Members of this Assembly called for the development of a strategy to increase literacy levels in every community in the Northwest Territories. We agree. Later this session, the Honourable Jake Ootes, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, will be tabling the Literacy Strategy in this House and providing further details. This budget provides the funding to implement the strategy, including:

• • $700,000 to deliver community-level literacy programs;
• • $400,000 to establish workplace literacy programs;
• • $300,000 for aboriginal language literacy courses;
• • $300,000 to extend library services to 15 smaller communities; and
• • $300,000 to deliver specialized programs or services to persons with disabilities, to seniors, and to those in correctional institutions; to monitor and report; and to promote the use of plain language within government.

This initiative to improve the literacy levels of Northerners is fundamental to achieving many of this government's key priorities and is essential to our future success.