Lack of literacy requires national plan, says senator

The federal government needs to do more to help Canadians who do not have the literacy skills they need to fully participate in society, says P.E.I. Senator Elizabeth Hubley.

Hubley said nearly half of Canadians lack sufficient literacy skills, and she wants the government to develop a national literacy strategy.

She said that can have a lot of negative impacts on people's lives.

Hoping for government action

"From their health, if they're not able to read labels, if they're not able to understand doctors' directions, or pharmacists' directions," said Hubley.

"From the news in the newspaper, they're probably not able to keep up with social issues that might be going on."

Hubley spoke in the Senate this week about literacy rates on P.E.I. in particular, and launched a Senate inquiry.

She hopes that speaking on the issue in the Senate could lead to government action to increase funding for literacy programs.

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