The mandate of the Literacy Branch was to assume overall responsibility within the Department of Education for literacy development and to coordinate the implementation of the Strategic Literacy Plan. The Executive Director of Literacy chaired the Strategic Literacy Funding Committee and was an advisory member to the Literacy Development Council.

"It is unfortunate that this government has once again demonstrated its commitment to the educational needs of our people by cutting services," said Mr. Reid. "Developing literacy programs is very important to ensure that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have the basic skills of reading and writing. This is the cornerstone to developing further educational activities and many people depend on government to provide these services in their effort to move forward in life."

"Over the past number of days I have received several calls from concerned citizens and the Newfoundland and Labrador Literacy Council expressing their outrage that this important position has been eliminated. They are concerned that literacy programs will no longer have the benefit of a full-time person to oversee and develop literacy activities in the province. Concern is also being expressed as to whether literacy programs will be the next thing on this government’s chopping block.

"While this government may not view literacy programs as an important part of the educational process, I can assure Minister Ottenheimer that there are many concerned people who view this downsizing as an attack on the fundamentals of the education system. It seems that this government is continuously attacking the services that people use on a daily basis without regard for the repercussions.

"Government cannot be run like a business. A social deficit should not be created to balance a fiscal deficit. If government were truly committed to the people of the province, they would reconsider the elimination of a position that ensures literacy remains a top priority of the Education Department."