moved for leave to introduce Bill C-276, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (literacy materials).
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure and an honour to again introduce this bill, which seeks to eliminate the goods and services tax on materials used in literacy development.
In our knowledge based economy, the bar is being constantly raised higher on the basic skills needed to access decent jobs, to function in daily tasks and to participate in social and political life. Despite our technical sophistication, nearly 50% of Canadians still have difficulty working with words and numbers.
This bill complements existing literacy measures and reduces the financial barriers keeping individuals from pursuing greater literacy.
I hope all members will give the bill their serious consideration.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)