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Media Advisory ______ MEDIA ADVISORY __________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release Tuesday, August 27, 2013 DECLARATION FOR THE RIGHT TO LITERACY UNVEILED – MULCAIR, DEXTER, CHISHOLM FIRST TO BEAR WITNESS Citizens governed by written law ought to be able to read and comprehend written law. (Dartmouth, NS) – 48% of working age Canadian lack the basic skills necessary to live and work in a knowledge based economy. Low literacy impacts the economy as these Canadians are unable to obtain employment. If low literacy slows down the economic growth of a country, and 48% of working age Canadian are struggling to attach them to the labour market why is the Canada Job Grants Program poised to ensure that many Canadians remain marginalized? The Right to Literacy Campaign was first introduced at the Right to Literacy Convention in Buffalo, New York, on June 13, 2009. The premise was simple, “The very existence of a written constitution, the supreme law of the land calls for an electorate that is literate enough to engage in it and other written laws without mediation. In other words citizens governed by written law ought to be able to read and comprehend written law. We all have the Right to Literacy.” The Dartmouth Learning Network has chosen to take the lead on the Declaration for the Right to Literacy awareness campaign in Canada. The campaign was launched at Alderney Landing on August 26th, 2013 and the first people to bear witness to the Declaration were Mr. Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the Official Opposition in Canada, and the Federal NDP Party, Mr. Darrell Dexter, Premier of Nova Scotia and Mr. Robert Chisholm, MP, Dartmouth-Cole Harbour. “We felt it was important to undertake this journey as literacy is tied to an individual’s competitiveness in the labour market. The proposed Canada Job Grants Program is set to have a devastating impact on low literate working age Canadians. We all agree that every Canadian should have the right to employment. Sadly for almost 50% of our working age population attaching themselves to the labour market is almost impossible due to their low literacy skills. Canada is one of the few countries in the world, let alone a first world country, that does not have a national framework for literacy, learning and essential skill development. Changes to the current Labour Market Agreement and the introduction of the Canada Job Grants Program will leave many Canadians behind and we have been trying to engage in a conversation with the Federal Government about the impact of the change in policy without success. We want to be a partner in the development of the new program so the voice of low literate, low skilled, low employed and unemployed Canadians does not go unheard,” says Lesley Dunn, Executive Director, Dartmouth Learning Network. “Our goal is that no Canadian is left behind. The adults we work with cannot read or understand the changes that are being imposed on them through the new Canada Job Grants program, if we cannot secure a conversation with the decision makers regarding the impact, how we can expect low literate Canadians to know how to navigate our Federal Government system and secure a conversation,” says Dana Atwell, Chair of the Board for the Dartmouth Learning Network. So the journey to shine a light on literacy, learning and essential skills began. The Dartmouth Learning Network’s Declaration for the Right to Literacy Campaign will work to ensure that everyone is working together to improve literacy from early childhood to adults. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure 100% literacy in Canada and that no Canadian will be left behind,” says Lesley Dunn, Executive Director of The Dartmouth Learning Network. -30- Contact Information Lesley Dunn, Executive Director, Dartmouth Learning Network 200-260 Wyse Rd., Dartmouth, NS B3A 1N3 (902) 478-5245 cell [email protected] ABOUT DARTMOUTH LEARNING NETWORK Originally founded in 1985 by the former Premier of Nova Scotia Dr. John Savage, The Dartmouth Learning Network offers free literacy and essential skills programming in classroom/small group and one-on-one environments; daytime and evening programs are held on site, and at community partner locations throughout Dartmouth. We offer basic adult literacy programs, math upgrading, computer basics, and employment readiness program in addition to a General Education Development (GED) program. US RIGHT TO LITERACY CAMPAIGN At the National Community Literacy Conference in Buffalo, N.Y., on June 13, 2009, delegates created resolutions to support legislation and policy aimed at increasing literacy levels across rural and urban America. They created a scroll that has traveled the country and been signed by tens of thousands of supporters at grassroots rallies, community picnics, library events, city halls, literacy conferences, and town hall meetings. Conference delegates sought to work with governmental systems to change, improve, and expand literacy services that enable all Americans from infants to seniors to meet their highest potential. .
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