Libraries

NDP Education Critic Dale Kirby (MHA, St. John’s North) confesses he is baffled as to why government is slashing funding for libraries and other essential tools in the fight for literacy.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John’s North.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

NDP Advanced Education and Skills Critic Dale Kirby (MHA, St. John’s North) says that, as International Adult Learners Week draws to a close, there is little good news in the field to report in this province, thanks largely to recent callous and poorly-considered budget cuts.

NDP Education Critic Dale Kirby (MHA, St. John’s North) says a newly-released literacy study shines the spotlight on areas in which government needs to improve. While the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study shows students in this province perform at the Canadian average, it also says quite clearly that there is a measureable gender gap in reading abilities.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for St. John’s North.

NDP Education Critic Dale Kirby (MHA, St. John’s North) and colleague Christopher Mitchelmore (MHA, The Straits-White Bay North) are calling on the government to renew investments in public libraries. They made the comments after a visit to the St. Anthony Public Library today.

NDP Education Critic Dale Kirby (MHA, St. John’s North) says government should immediately take steps so the province’s libraries can continue to provide the invaluable services made possible by the Community Access Program. Furthermore, he says, the provincial government had more than ample notice to take the necessary budgetary measures.

Today in the House of Assembly NDP Advanced Education and Skills Critic Dale Kirby (MHA, St. John’s North) asked government about promised program facilities at the Grand Falls Windsor College of the North Atlantic campus.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John’s North.

NDP Education critic Dale Kirby (MHA, St. John’s North) asked in the House of Assembly today why government has once again denied funding for new public libraries.