Mr. Speaker, January 27, 2008, was Family Literacy Day, and I hope that all Members read with or to a loved one on that day.
The N.W.T. Literacy Council is a non-profit, registered charitable organization and has been promoting and advancing literacy development in all N.W.T. official languages for many years. They do this through training, research and the delivery of programs.
Forty-two per cent of N.W.T. adults function at a literacy level that is lower than that considered necessary for full participation in family, community and work life. That’s almost half of our population, Mr. Speaker. Survey results also show an unacceptable gap in literacy levels between aboriginal and non-aboriginal adults.
Improved literacy can positively affect our residents in many areas. It will increase economic success to reduce public spending on health and other support systems, and it will help to preserve culture. A 1 per cent rise in literacy scores creates a 2.5 per cent increase in an individual’s productivity level. Increased productivity leads to economic growth, and that benefits society as a whole.
During our strategic planning sessions in November last, Members often spoke of community and family and the need for community to build from the bottom up. One of the ways we can do that is by improving literacy and numeracy skills, especially in our youth and unemployed. Residents with an acceptable level of literacy skills lead more productive lives. They feel better in terms of both work and play. Their family relationships are more stable, and they contribute more to the community. All of this serves to benefit and increase community productivity and growth.
The N.W.T. Literacy Council works on behalf of N.W.T. residents but with limited funds, a portion of
which come from the Government of the Northwest Territories. Suffice to say that the government gets very good value for the few dollars that the Literacy Council gets.
As this Assembly strives to advance the goals and priorities set last year, I hope that the government will recognize the importance of this organization and the good work they do, and that it will support the N.W.T. Literacy Council with adequate and consistent long-term funding. Our residents, our communities, our economy will be much better off for it.