Mr. Speaker, today is Canada Book Day. As a self-confessed bookworm, I am proud of the government's record in promoting literacy, a prerequisite to full participation in Canada Book Day.
We promised in the red book to restore the national literacy program. Not only has this been done, but the Prime Minister has also appointed a minister responsible for literacy. Under her able leadership, the national literacy program has been restored and many Canadians are on their way to acquiring the literacy skills needed to participate fully in the workplace and in society.
It takes more than government policy and initiatives to implement this however. Tribute must also be paid to the thousands of volunteers across Canada who show their commitment to the cause of literacy by working with their local literacy groups.
This being National Volunteer Week, I can think of no better time to acknowledge the efforts of the Saskatoon Literacy Coalition. Each year, volunteers like Eleanor Charman and Ruth Thompson, and many others, organize a fundraising spelling bee in which I have had the honour and pleasure of participating. Thanks as well to the contributions of small businesses like the Broadway Theatre that housed the spelling bee.
The slogan of Canada Book Week is: "Read a book and see what happens".