Released on November 9, 2006
Premier Lorne Calvert expressed support for the Saskatchewan Literacy Network in lobbying the federal government to reinstate federal literacy funding at today's Literacy Action Day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Literacy Action Day is a planned, annual event sponsored and organized by the Movement for Canadian Literacy."Literacy is a national challenge, not the prerogative of any single provincial, territorial or municipal jurisdiction and it must be addressed collectively by all levels of government," Calvert said. "We will take action on all fronts and that is why I have asked the Prime Minister to reinstate the federal government literacy funding that has been withdrawn."
In September, the federal government announced a refocusing of their expenditures which cut a total of $820,000 in literacy funding in Saskatchewan. This includes $650,000 in project funding for adult and family literacy, and $170,000 in operations funding to the Saskatchewan literacy coalition. As a result, both the Saskatchewan Literacy Network and the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Networks have indicated that they may be forced to close their doors.
Premier Calvert commented on the recent announcement that the federal government has reinstated the funding to the Prince Edward Island Literacy Alliance.
"I am pleased to hear Prince Edward Island Premier Pat Binns announce that the federal government has restored federal funding to literacy programs in PEI," Calvert said. "I would now expect the Prime Minister to restore the federal funding for Saskatchewan literacy programs."
The provincial government provided $2 million in funding to Community Based Organizations, educational institutions and communities for literacy programs and services in 2006-07. This is an increase of $900,000 from the previous year.
-30-
For More Information, Contact:
| Caroline MacMurchy Saskatchewan Literacy Commission Regina Phone: 306-787-2663 Email: cmacmurchy@slc.gov.sk.ca |