There are millions of illiterate people in Canada.

• FACT: There are very few people who are “illiterate,” meaning that they cannot read at all. There are about nine million Canadian adults age 16 to 65 who are challenged by low literacy. However, most can read to some degree. These individuals simply need additional tutoring to raise their literacy skills to a level where they can engage fully and confidently in regular work and life activities.

You can either read or you can’t read.

• FACT: Having low literacy does not mean that you “can’t read.” Reading comprehension is not like an ‘on-off’ light switch. The vast majority of people with literacy issues can read to a certain degree, but not at a literacy level required for full engagement at work, at home and in the community.

Low literacy is not an issue for adults who are educated and who have traditionally had good literacy skills.

• FACT: Literacy skills can deteriorate over time if habits do not support literacy development and maintenance. Literacy skills are like muscles - they are maintained and strengthened through regular use (Literacy Skills for the Knowledge Society, Statistics Canada, 1997). That is why it is so important for families to read and learn together. Both children and parents benefit from these activities.

Low literacy primarily affects people of a certain socio-economic level.

• FACT: Though some correlations can be drawn between socio-economic levels and literacy levels, the reality is that literacy challenges are experienced by adults in a wide range of socio-economic circumstances and occupations. Their literacy levels may vary, but they are nonetheless challenged by the tasks they face. What is common among these individuals are the methods they use to hide their difficulties.

Canada’s low literacy levels are as high as they are due to increased immigration.

• FACT: While a significantly higher proportion of immigrants have low literacy (60 per cent, compared to 37 per cent of native-born Canadians), and while immigration levels have increased over time, especially in certain urban areas, the overall percentage of Canadian adults with low literacy is 42 per cent, a level that has effectively remained the same since 1994 (International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey, Statistics Canada, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, U.S. National Center for Education Statistics, 2005).

The school system should be able to address the issue of low literacy in adult Canadians.

• FACT: Low literacy among adult Canadians should not be an issue for the school system to handle alone. Unfortunately, adults with low literacy are so challenged for a variety of personal reasons. To address the issue of low literacy in adult Canadians, there must be opportunities made available for adults in various circumstances to gain access to the literacy upgrades they require. It is therefore necessary for business, labour, government and schools to work together to achieve this goal.

Why investing in adult literacy matters

Literacy skills enable people to understand the world around them, and engage more fully in it. With the tool of literacy:

• Street signs and the innumerable other pieces of information we encounter in our daily lives are deciphered and understood.
• Stories are read and enjoyed.
• Thought-provoking ideas are contemplated.
• Instructions for running machinery and taking medicine are observed.
• The issues pertinent to making informed choices are considered and acted upon..
  There are a large number social and economic benefits that the person gifted with literacy can enjoy. And as each adult gains the literacy skills they once lacked, the society in which they live is richer for it.

Some key benefits of investing in adult literacy

At work:

Greater employment opportunities

• Literacy and numeracy skills improve the chances of individuals finding work and attaining promotions on the job.

Increased workplace safety

• Understanding safety regulations and procedures leads to fewer injuries. This, in turn, leads to reduced insurance costs and employee downtime.

Enhanced workplace efficiencies

• Greater understanding of job demands and procedures aids communication and enhances workplace efficiencies.

Increased competitiveness

• Enhanced literacy skills prepare employees for managerial and technological changes in the workplace, and position the company for greater competitiveness.

More vibrant and engaged workforce

• When literacy skills are increased, employees are better suited to meet the demands of their job, assume greater responsibilities, and seek promotion. An organization active in offering education and employment opportunities is more likely to retain its employees.

Bolstered Canadian economy

• A more literate workforce boosts productivity: The C.D. Howe Institute reports that a 1% rise in a country’s literacy level, relative to the international average, is associated with an eventual 2.5% rise in labour productivity and a 1.5% rise in the per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [Public Investment in Skills: Are Canadian Governments Doing Enough?, Serge Coulombe and Jean-François Tremblay, C.D. Howe Institute, 2005]

At home:

Better-prepared youth for work and life

• Increased literacy levels among parents mean more reading and literacy-building activities in the home, preparing their children for success in school and encouraging a lifelong love of reading and learning.
  Enhanced family environment.
• Establishing a culture of learning encourages an exchange of ideas, enriches family relationships, and bolsters confidence and independent thinking.

Improved health

• Increased literacy provides the ability to access, understand, and act on health information.

In the community:

Improved healthcare system

• An understanding of medical dosages means fewer mistakes and interventions. Greater individual autonomy, including among seniors, means less reliance on health-givers. As fewer resources are needed, the cost of the healthcare system is likely to decline.

Reduction of poverty

• Literacy proficiency improves chances of employment, builds self-confidence and enables discussions and actions that affect the welfare of individuals and their community.

Increased democratic participation

• Greater understanding of social and political issues means a more informed opinion at the ballot box, better understanding of issues, and greater confidence in discussing them. This, in turn, encourages leadership and engagement in public debate.