Brigid Hayes

This document was prepared to accompany a webinar presented in November 2011 by the Ontario Literacy Coalition, now called Essential Skills Ontario.

The webinar was designed to help literacy organizations understand labour market transfers from the federal government and, in particular, to understand the implications of one specific transfer, the Labour Market Agreement (LMA).

In October 2013, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released results from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), an initiative that provides internationally comparable measures of literacy, numeracy, and problem solving in technology-rich environments (PS-TRE).

The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) is an initiative of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that provides internationally comparable measures of literacy, numeracy, and problem solving in technology-rich environments (PS-TRE). This paper offers insights into the impact for Canada of the first results of PIAAC, including directions for future policy initiatives.

This brief document provides a starting point for discussing how Literacy Nova Scotia (LNS) can and should promote workforce and workplace literacy and Essential Skills.

In 2010, the literacy councils of the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Nunavut joined forces for a project that would culminate two years later in a three-day forum on adult learning, literacy, and skills development in northern Canada. The goals of the project, entitled Made in the North, were to explore northern-directed policies and practices that support adult learning; develop partnerships; and share knowledge.

The goal of this report is to provide context for understanding the current state of Literacy and Essential Skills (LES) in the province of Saskatchewan. The author discusses such issues as existing and emerging skill shortages; increasing numbers of people seeking English as a Second Language (ESL) training; the growing Aboriginal population and its literacy needs; and other demographic challenges faced by the province.

This report provides background material for understanding labour market transfers from the federal government and, in particular, for understanding the implications of one specific transfer, the Labour Market Agreement (LMA), for literacy organizations across Canada.

This document summarizes the findings of a consultant’s review of the role of Literacy Nova Scotia (LNS) in developing literacy and Essential Skills related to the workplace and to workforce development. The author’s findings are based on discussions with key players in the field, as well as a review of federal and provincial documents about adult literacy.

This document offers an overview of adult literacy in the province of Ontario.

In the first chapter, the author explains that literacy is an ever-expanding term, noting that the literacy skills required to be successful in 2009 are quite different from those required 20 or even 10 years ago.

Traditionally, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has focused its advocacy efforts regarding literacy and essential skills on the federal government. However, changes at the federal level have meant that provincial governments have funds to support literacy and essential skills activities in the workplace.