Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to begin with an observation. The committee is new, in many respects, in terms of its makeup. I think the lesson from this morning, and perhaps you'll agree, is that having the meeting, which we started ten minutes late, with half an hour for speeches--written speeches that ministers have read to us--and only an hour and twenty minutes for questions, is woefully inadequate when you consider the importance of the two departments in question. They are large departments. One has been recombined from two separate departments, so there are effectively three departments. And we have an hour and twenty minutes in all, this spring, to ask these ministers questions.
I therefore have to get to the questions. I have many, but I'll start with this one for Ms. Finley.
Thank you for coming in this morning, and welcome to the committee, in spite of my comments. I hope we'll have you back soon, perhaps separately, to answer many more questions, because the estimates process is an important one, and I know that you agree with the importance of being held accountable on these issues.
Let me ask you first about literacy. I'd like you to confirm, if you would, the literacy funding that I've heard about, of $38.8 million. Is that confirmed for literacy, and if so, when will calls for proposals go out?
For instance, Literacy Nova Scotia has had no funding since March 31. It's looking at laying off staff or closing its doors. This is a dire situation for people who are at a disadvantage, who obviously need literacy training. I'm sure you'll agree that literacy training is absolutely fundamental. I heard the head of Nova Scotia Community College say that their biggest challenge at community college is literacy. That's a fundamental problem we have to face in terms of skill shortages, and throughout everything. It's the base. What's happening?