News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The following statement was today issued by Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Jody Carr on the occasion of Literacy Day in New Brunswick, Wednesday, April 16:

Literacy provides the foundation for life-long learning and is essential to supporting our mandate centered on people, jobs and skills. Literacy opens doors to employment opportunities and enhances the quality of life for New Brunswickers. It is an important initial step in putting our best resources, our human resources, to work.

We are proud to work in partnership with organizations like the Community Adult Learning Network, Laubach Literacy New Brunswick, Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick, le Conseil pour le développement de l'alphabétisme et des compétences des adultes Nouveau-Brunswick Inc. (previously called la Fédération du Nouveau-Brunswick), New Brunswick Public Library Service and Copian, (previously called the National Adult Literacy Database), whose collective efforts help improve literacy skills.

Our government is supporting literacy through a variety of programs and services. For example, we recently announced an annual $1 million dollar investment to increase the support provided to the Community Adult Learning Network, and $500,000 will be annualized for operational costs of adult learning organizations and address growing demand for intervention services.

Funds allocated to community adult learning programs have been maintained and actually have seen a $4.6 million increase over the last four years.

Our government has expanded initiatives and increased the number and range of our life-long learning opportunities through the labour market agreements. We have augmented equitable access to library services and expanded collections, and we are assisting more adult learners reach their goals each year.

Our literacy teachers, volunteers and employers all make significant contributions to help us enhance literacy. Through these efforts, and through collaboration, we are helping make literacy a reality for many New Brunswickers.

On New Brunswick Literacy Day we also take the time to recognize some of these contributions through the Council of the Federation Literacy Awards. The 13 premiers and territorial leaders created the awards in 2004 to recognize the importance of literacy as an essential building block to a vibrant society and economy.

This year Mary Hill and Brigitte Martin have each received the award. They have been recognized as outstanding adult educators.

We are inspired by the good work being done throughout New Brunswick and are equally as inspired by those learners who are taking the necessary steps to educate themselves for a brighter tomorrow.