Toronto, ON - Prevailing low-literacy rates in Canada, released today by Statistics Canada and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), underscore the importance of the federal government adopting the Pan-Canadian Comprehensive Strategy spearheaded by The Hon. Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of State - Human Resources Development.

The findings released today in the 2003 International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS) fill in the provincial and territorial details of the national picture released May 11, 2005 when the Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey revealed that 15% of Canadians aged 16-65 have difficulty comprehending any printed material (a Level 1 literacy) and an additional 27% of adult Canadians can read only simple material (Level 2) and do not meet the minimum skills level suitable for coping with the demands of everyday life and work.

This new survey includes not only Canadians aged 16 to 65, but those over the age of 65. Hence, it reports 20% of Canadians in the lowest literacy level and 28% in Level 2. This is essentially no different than earlier 1994 figures of 22% and 26%, respectively, released in the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) (OECD and Statistics Canada).

“One reality in these findings is writ large: In the nine years since the last major study on literacy levels, Canada’s low literacy rates have remained essentially the same,” says Christine Featherstone, President and CEO, ABC CANADA.

The statistics reveal wide-spread challenges with low literacy, with some regions showing pronounced challenges, such as the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec. “Low literacy affects a huge percentage of Canadians, and further investment in literacy training from various sectors and throughout the country will help turn these low-literacy statistics around,” says Featherstone. “We applaud Minister Bradshaw for the leadership she is showing in working with literacy organizations to bring about the Pan-Canadian Comprehensive Strategy that is sorely needed.”

Low-literacy score patterns remain in provinces, territories

As today’s release indicates, the story of low literacy is played out, province to territory. The percentage of Canadians 16 and over with the lowest literacy skills (Level 1) range from 14% to 24%, with Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick and Quebec having the highest percentages (see table, below). This position has persisted from the 1994 statistics to these most recent 2003 statistics.

Level 2 adults - those who do not meet the minimum skills level suitable for coping with the demands of everyday life and work, and who typically hide their challenges with elaborate coping mechanisms - represent more than one in four Canadians, with the exception of British Columbia which has a lower percentage (23%) scoring Level 2. Again, New Brunswick, the Atlantic Provinces as a whole, and Quebec have the highest percentage of Level 2 adults.

In 1994, three regions (with reportable numbers) had more adults with low literacy (combined Level 1 and Level 2 scores) than the Canadian average: Atlantic Provinces as a whole, New Brunswick and Quebec. The 2003 statistics indicate that as many as five provinces and territories - Newfoundland & Labrador, PEI, New Brunswick, Quebec and Nunavut - had more people with low literacy than the national average.

The Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan have the best low-literacy rates, with The Yukon’s exceptional record of 33% of residents 16 years and over being in the two lowest levels - a spread of 15 percentage points below the Canadian average. While the performance of the three western provinces is relatively better than in other regions of the country, four out of 10 people in those provinces still fall in the low-literacy range.

“These results lend further support to the need for greater investments in literacy in this country,” says Featherstone.

Note: Estimates for 2003 Atlantic and Western Provinces based on a weighted average using total population.