Garfield Dunlop

Garfield Dunlop, MPP
Simcoe North

MPP DUNLOP SAYS MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT IS CONFUSED

Family Literacy Day Marred By Inadequate Funding Of Programs

For Immediate Release
January 26, 2011

(Orillia) – As area reading councils prepare to recognize Family Literacy Day which is tomorrow January 27th in Canada, Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop is blasting the McGuinty Liberals for ignoring their provincial responsibility to fund literacy programs.

“John Milloy (Ontario’s Minister of Training Colleges and University) made the comment last week that there was ‘some confusion out there and that there is no reason for the Midland Area Reading Council (MARC) to be surprised’ that funding for Ontario literacy programs is being cut from $90 million two years ago, to 1997 levels,” said Dunlop.

“As far as I am concerned the Minister is the only one confused,” added Dunlop. “When the McGuinty Liberals announced funding two years ago for community literacy groups it was part of a labour market agreement with the federal government. The agreement allowed for monetary adjustments each year based on inflation. This meant dollar increases each year that should not be eliminated.”

“The McGuinty Liberal Government took credit two years ago for funding for literacy programs and yet they continue to blame the federal government, saying it was part of a stimulus package. The funding was never to be cut off after two years,” said Dunlop.

“The only confusion facing community based literacy groups surrounds trying to understand why the McGuinty Liberals would spend millions of federal dollars for TV advertising for the flawed Second Career program while Literacy groups are starved for funding,” added Dunlop.

Community based literacy groups have indicated that they will have no choice but to reduce services and will find it difficult to keep their doors open when the province cuts funding this March.

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For further information contact:

Garfield Dunlop, MPP
705-327-4500 (cell)