Mr. Speaker, today is Family Literacy Day, an occasion for families, young and old, from coast to coast to coast, to celebrate the many benefits of reading and learning.
Literacy is the foundation of any successful society, a skill that opens not only minds but doors of opportunity for children and adults alike.
Instilling at a young age the value of reading comprehension, the empowerment of scholarship and the gratification of learning should be our common pursuits in creating an early childhood education system.
The values promoted by Family Literacy Day and other causes like it are only a small step toward this goal. Much more work needs to be done.
I commend all literacy organizations in their ongoing support for literacy and call on the government to provide a worthy partner in efforts to make Canada the most literate country in the world.