KINGSTON, ON, Aug. 19 /CNW/ - The Honourable Peter Milliken, Member of
Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, today welcomed the announcement from
the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development, of
$75,000 in funding for a family literacy project by Kingston Literacy. This
project is being funded through the National Literacy Secretariat.

    Through the "Family Literacy Development for the Eastern Region" project,
Kingston Literacy will carry out research and planning to establish a Family
Literacy Resource Centre. The Centre will encourage and support the
development and delivery of family literacy programming in the Kingston area.
This project will also encourage the use of the Ontario Literacy Coalition's
Family Literacy Kit by all the Early Years Centres, Early Literacy
Specialists, Adult Literacy and Family Literacy programs in the region, and
provide ongoing support for new family literacy initiatives based on the
models found in the kit.

    "By supporting our children in becoming strong readers and writers at an
early age, we are helping to ensure their success in the future," said
Mr. Milliken. "This project will identify ways to engage parents in family or
adult literacy programs to help increase their own literacy skills and,
therefore, encourage them to help develop their children's literacy skills."

    Literacy skills are linked to work skills, health and self-esteem. Higher
literacy skills among Canadians enable them to participate more fully in our
economy and our society. For instance, literacy skills help determine the
kinds of jobs we find, enable parents to read to their children and help us
understand technical jargon, allowing us to use tools and equipment safely.

    The National Literacy Secretariat works in partnership with provincial
and territorial governments, business, labour and the volunteer community. The
goal of these partnerships is to increase public awareness of literacy, help
people share information, improve access to literacy programs, develop
learning materials and advance research on literacy.

    This project supports the Government of Canada's Innovation Strategy and
more specifically Knowledge Matters, a policy paper that addresses the
national challenge of ensuring that Canadians possess the skills and knowledge
required to fully participate in the knowledge-based economy.

    Funding for this project was provided for in the February 2003 federal
Budget.

    This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's
administration of its grant and contribution programs.

                   ---------------------------------------
                               PROJECT SUMMARY

                   - Government of Canada funding: $75,000
                     through the National Literacy
                     Secretariat
                   - Objective: identify ways to engage
                     parents with low literacy skills in
                     family or adult literacy programs
                   ---------------------------------------

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For further information: Media Relations Office, Human Resources 
Development Canada, (819) 994-5559