XPost: can.politics, bc.politics, ont.politics   
   XPost: ab.politics   
   From: "@nyet.ca   
      
   They're brought into Canada by the hundreds of thousands a year, many of   
   them not being able to speak or write English or French.  And this is   
   how the Harper government 'assimilates' them into our society . . . .   
   cuts in funding to literacy education.  God help us all.   
   ________________________________________________   
      
   Calgary Herald - May 19, 2014   
      
   Adult literacy groups warn of layoffs, social harm in wake of federal cuts   
      
      
   The federal government has cut funding to numerous adult literacy   
   programs in a restructuring that has left many groups scrambling.   
      
   “Some organizations across Canada will be seeing layoffs for sure,” said   
   Phillip Hoffman, executive director of Literacy Alberta. “They are   
   happening across Canada. That might happen with us.”   
      
   Minister of Employment and Social Development Jason Kenney said the   
   funding will now focus on projects as opposed to organizations. An   
   example highlighted by the ministry is a project for high school   
   dropouts taking on apprenticeships to finish their diploma.   
      
   For years, federal funding “was going to the same organizations to cover   
   the costs of administration and countless research papers, instead of   
   being used to fund projects that actually result in Canadians improving   
   their literacy skills,” said an email from Alexandra Fortier, Kenney’s   
   press secretary.   
      
   “These organizations were advised three years ago to give them ample   
   time to prepare (for) the federal government changing the structure of   
   funding through the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills to make it   
   more effective. Canadian taxpayers will no longer fund administration of   
   organizations, but will instead fund useful literacy projects.”   
      
   Anna Kae Todd, vice-president of learning at Bow Valley College, says   
   the change will hurt projects across the country.   
      
   “It is moving quickly, in terms of the notice,” says Todd, who’s heard   
   that half of Canada’s six national literacy groups were denied core   
   funding in the past week, as well as seven provincial bodies.   
      
   Todd says that while the college won’t face layoffs — their core funding   
   comes from the province — Ottawa has denied funding for three training   
   proposals.   
      
   Todd acknowledged the college’s federal funding went to administration   
   and research, but countered that this helps maximize an unpaid volunteer   
   base who lack formal literacy training.   
      
   “There’s such a huge need for continued and sustainable funding for   
   adult literacy,” said Todd, describing it as an upfront investment that   
   prevents higher costs for social programs down the road. “I believe that   
   education is the single most important focus for social and economic good.”   
      
   While concerned, Hoffman said focusing federal dollars on individual   
   projects is “a reasonable approach.”   
      
   “The federal government has played a lead role in funding adult   
   essential skills programs,” he said, adding that the training helps fill   
   gaps in Canada’s labour market.   
      
   “It’s in the interest of all Canadians that we adequately fund programs   
   that can address those gaps directly, which will translate to more   
   Canadians fulfilling their potential to improve their lives and careers.”   
      
   Todd says that’s exactly what’s at stake with a new funding structure.   
      
   “It’s the difference between the short-sighted and a longer-term view.”   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)