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Fifth Session, Thirty-Eighth Legislature

This version is based on the printed bill that was distributed in the Legislature after First Reading.   It is not the official version.   If accuracy is critical, you can obtain a copy of the printed bill from Statutory Publications.

Bill 10

THE ADULT LITERACY ACT


Table of Contents Explanatory Note

(Assented to                                         )

WHEREAS higher literacy skills lead to reduced poverty and improve the health and well-being of individuals, families and the community;

AND WHEREAS working-age adults in Manitoba with inadequate literacy skills cannot take full advantage of current and future employment opportunities;

AND WHEREAS to provide effective literacy programming for adults, the government, literacy practitioners, immigrant organizations, aboriginal organizations and communities and appropriate non-government organizations need to work together;

THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

Definitions

1

The following definitions apply in this Act.

"MALP" means the Manitoba Adult Literacy Program established in section 3. (« PAAM »)

"minister" means the minister appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to administer this Act. (« ministre »)

"prescribed" means prescribed by regulation.

Adult literacy strategy

2(1)

The minister shall, in collaboration with other ministers and agencies of the government, literacy practitioners, immigrant organizations, aboriginal organizations and communities and appropriate non-government organizations, lead the development, implementation and evaluation of an adult literacy strategy for Manitoba.

Information sharing re strategy

2(2)

The minister may require government agencies and the other departments, branches and offices of the executive government to provide the minister with information to assist in developing, implementing and evaluating the adult literacy strategy.

Manitoba Adult Literacy Program

3

The Manitoba Adult Literacy Program is hereby established as a component of the adult literacy strategy.

Purpose

4(1)

The purpose of MALP is to provide support for agencies that offer literacy programs for adults seeking to improve their literacy skills.  Support may include funding to assist agencies in offering literacy programs for adults.

Eligibility criteria for funding

4(2)

To be eligible to receive funding under MALP, an agency must

(a) be a not-for-profit corporation, a library, or an adult learning centre registered under The Adult Learning Centres Act, that meets the prescribed criteria;

(b) provide an adult literacy program that, in the opinion of the minister,

(i) offers sufficient hours of instruction over a sufficient period to make measurable improvements in the literacy of those attending, and

(ii) meets the prescribed requirements and standards;

(c) apply in the manner and provide the information required by the minister; and

(d) enter into an agreement with the minister that contains the prescribed terms and conditions, and any others that are required by the minister.

Evaluating agencies and adult literacy programs

5

For the purpose of evaluating an adult literacy program offered by an agency that has received funding under MALP, the minister may

(a) require the agency to produce for examination or copying any of the following that are in its custody or under its control:

(i) records, documents or things relating to the agency's operations,

(ii) information relating to the adults who attend the literacy program;

(b) inspect facilities, teaching materials and other aspects of the agency's learning environment;

(c) observe the manner in which the agency provides its literacy program;

(d) conduct interviews or surveys of adults attending the literacy program, and require the agency to provide information respecting adults who are attending or have attended the literacy program, for the purpose of conducting off-site interviews or surveys; and

(e) take any other steps that the minister considers necessary to evaluate the adult literacy program.

Delegation by minister

6

The minister may delegate to an employee of the government any power conferred or duty imposed on the minister under this Act, except the power to make regulations.

Payments from Consolidated Fund

7

The Minister of Finance may pay to the minister from the Consolidated Fund, with money authorized by an Act of the Legislature to be so paid and applied, such amounts as the minister requisitions for the purposes of this Act.

Regulations

8

The minister may make regulations

(a) establishing requirements and standards respecting literacy programs for adults, including without limitation, standards respecting

(i) the minimum hours of instruction and duration of programming,

(ii) the requirements for admission, the methods of instruction and the qualifications of instructors and program coordinators, and

(iii) the availability and quality of teaching materials;

(b) establishing terms and conditions under which agencies may receive funding under MALP, including prescribing criteria for determining eligibility;

(c) respecting records to be made and maintained by agencies that receive funding under MALP, and information that those agencies are required to provide to the minister, including records and information respecting

(i) financial matters,

(ii) the qualifications of instructors and program coordinators, and

(iii) the attendance, and measures of the performance of adults who are or have attended the literacy program;

(d) respecting the times at which and the form and manner in which records and information under clause (c) are to be provided to the minister;

(e) establishing the program year for the purpose of section 10;

(f) defining words and phrases that are used but not defined in this Act;

(g) respecting any other matter that the minister considers necessary or advisable.

Interpretation:  "information"

9(1)

In subsection 2(2), section 5 and clause 8(c), "information" includes

(a) personal information as defined in The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; and

(b) personal health information as defined in The Personal Health Information Act, but only to the extent required to develop, implement and evaluate the adult literacy strategy and MALP in respect of adults with disabilities.

Non-identifying information

9(2)

Under this Act,

(a) personal information or personal health information required must be limited to the minimum amount necessary to accomplish the purpose for which it is required or disclosed; and

(b) the minister must not request personal information or personal health information if other information will serve the purpose of the request. 

Annual report

10(1)

Within six months after the end of each MALP program year, the minister must prepare an annual report on the adult literacy strategy for Manitoba.  The report must contain a summary of the performance of MALP in the program year, including

(a) the total amount of unding provided under MALP; and

(b) the total number of adults attending adult literacy programs that received funding.

Tabling report in Assembly

10(2)

The minister must lay a copy of the report before the Legislative Assembly within 15 days after completing it if the Assembly is sitting or, if it is not, within 15 days after the beginning of the next sitting.

C.C.S.M. reference

11

This Act may be referred to as chapter A6 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba.

Coming into force

12

This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

Explanatory Note

Under this Bill, the minister is to lead the development, implementation and evaluation of an Adult Literacy Strategy.

As part of the strategy, the Manitoba Adult Literacy Program is established.  It will help to fund qualifying agencies that offer programs for adults wanting to improve their literacy skills.