Mr. Speaker, an informed and caring government understands that it holds a responsibility to unlock the full potential of the citizens it represents, but in the case of Canadians who struggle with literacy skills, this government has in fact closed the door and thrown away the key.
Years of progress have been made in this area, progress that has been obtained through the efforts of committed staff and community volunteers supported by past federal governments. Now they find themselves in jeopardy because of the recent round of harsh and unnecessary cuts.
My wife Lynn is an adult educator, and what inspires and motivates her each day are the stories of students who have seized the opportunity to improve their literacy skills and further advance their education and in turn enhance their quality of life.
These devastating cuts made by an uninformed government that believes literacy initiatives are a waste of money clearly shows that Canadians with literacy challenges just do not matter.