By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady
Sadly, many can’t read this column. Statistics provided by Frontier College in Toronto state in Ontario 15 per cent of those aged 16 to 65 score at or below what they classify as Literacy Level 1. That is “they struggle with very serious literacy challenges and have trouble reading even the most basic text.” In Canada, it has been said that approximately 42 per cent of adults require assistance with reading and writing. These are among themes I recently discussed at a meeting with Haldimand-Norfolk Learning Centres.
Reading is something so many of us take for granted. We do it every day and have for as long as most of us remember. For others, for reasons beyond their control, and for reasons that have nothing to do with intelligence, reading is not in their wheelhouse. They were just never taught and often started early in careers that required minimal reading comprehension.
Being a massive hockey fan, I think of former NHL coach and Canadian Senator Jacques Demers. Mr. Demers described himself as functionally illiterate. For many years he deked around (pun intended) situations where he would have to write something by saying his skills in written English weren’t good enough because he was a Francophone. And he would say his French written skills were lacking because he had coached so long in the US. In his autobiography, he came out as functionally illiterate and helped reduce the stigma. As a Senator for the Stephen Harper government, he was mandated to raise awareness and advise on ways to alleviate this critical situation.
And it is a critical situation for Canadian society. There’s an intersection of literacy levels and social issues. For example, 46 per cent of adults with the lowest literacy levels live in low-income households. By comparison, a mere eight per cent of adults with high literacy levels live in low-income households.
Income isn’t the only intersection between literacy and quality of life. There’s much more. Take for example, the correlation between literacy and health. Canadians with low literacy have more than double the likelihood of being in poor health. Correctional Services Canada (CSC) states around 75 per cent of offenders report an education level of less than grade 12. CSC also reports when educational training, including literacy, is provided to inmates, there’s reduced recidivism and better chances for decent employment upon their release into society.
It’s hard enough keeping up with the technological change being foisted upon us. Literally, it seems like I learn and get used to using one form of technology and then it seems to be antiquated within months. I can only imagine how hard it is for someone with lower reading skills to adapt. Digital literacy is critical for problem solving today and for the future. I’m told nearly 100 per cent of folks under 45 years of age use technology and computers. But as the digital world continues its takeover, higher literacy skills will be required to digest and apply all this new information.
I can go on and on with more examples of the importance of literacy. But if you got to the end of this column, maybe I reminded you how important literacy is and how you and I take it for granted. And maybe you can tell those who couldn’t make it to the end of this column due to literacy issues, I will be encouraging my Queen’s Park colleagues to make literacy a priority and find ways to help them and better support organizations like Haldimand-Norfolk Learning Centres.
Bobbi Ann Brady is the MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk