I think the impact is perhaps twofold. One thing is the message that it sends in the community-based organizations and organizations similar to mine, which work to provide programs to adults who are underserved. There's an atmosphere created by such cuts. And I think, when it comes to recognition of learning, the cuts do affect all of us who are involved with adults, whether it's in literacy or in recognition of programs, or in recognition of learning and skills. So the drop has a dramatic effect.
Our event just took place in New Brunswick, as I mentioned to you, a couple of weeks ago. There was a lot of concern about where the Government of Canada is in terms of recognizing the skills of older workers, recognizing the skills of immigrants, aboriginal people, and seasonal workers. I don't think we can afford not to recognize the knowledge and skills of our people. That makes no sense if we're in fact dealing with a skills shortage.
From my perspective, I think of the term “multiple literacies”. When I think of somebody who can't read, perhaps they have a tremendous ability in some other area. So I think we need to celebrate the learning of Canadians in areas in which they are competent, and provide them, as I mentioned in my brief, opportunities to express that competence in some helpful workplace tool, such as a portfolio of learning where they can celebrate their learning. They can market their learning to an employer in the off-seasons, as an example, and through such a process oftentimes come to the realization themselves that, “Gee, I need some literacy training here. I'm having trouble writing this.” So this would provide an opportunity through self-reflection and self-assessment to get people motivated and engaged in lifelong learning.
I think of the population that step up to these opportunities. It's the 70% that are feeling disenfranchised, the older workers who feel that they don't have anything to offer because they're 55. We can't afford to waste those skills.