The Literacy Development Council of Newfoundland and Labrador celebrated Literacy Action Day on March 14, 2000, This day was first established in 1993 by several national literacy organizations who felt that literacy was a very important issue for all Canadians. They hoped that setting aside a day to think about literacy would help create a better awareness. They also felt it was important to encourage Canadians to take some form of action on that day and throughout the year to support literacy.

This year the Literacy Development Council was involved in a number of activities to promote literacy on Literacy Action Day. The Council appreciated your support in making the day successful. The following activities were encouraged:

1. Council organized a READ-IN 2000 for all students in the Province. READ-IN simply meant inviting a person in the community to visit a classroom and read to children for one half hour or less. Participants had a chance to win one of three $200 prizes for the purchase of books for their school.
   
   
2. The Council also set up literacy displays in partnership with other literacy groups around the province. You may have visited a display or volunteered to help out.
   
   
3. The Council encouraged all learners and the general public to write both the provincial MHAs and federal MPs encouraging them to support literacy.

Most importantly, Council encouraged everyone to support literacy activities that were held in their communities. If you are interested in setting up a display in your community/region at anytime, Council can help by providing you with handouts, brochures, magnets, etc. They also have a limited supply of display kits available. You may call 1-800-563-1111 for more information.

Gas and Home Heating Oil — Are Prices Out of Control?

Consumers in Newfoundland and Labrador pay some of the highest prices in the country for gasoline. The price of gasoline is determined by a number of factors that include the actual price of crude oil, refining costs, marketing costs, and both provincial and federal taxes. Taxes are a large part of the final price at the pump.

In this province, we pay 16.5¢ per liter to the province, 10¢ per liter to the federal government in excise tax, and an additional 15% blended sales tax which covers HST and GST.

The December issue of Readers Digest presented a breakdown of costs for gasoline in St. John's using a pump price of 63¢ per liter. The magazine stated the following:

Students across the province are very concerned about the cost of gasoline and home heating oil

Freeman Stone, Donna Mitchell, Larry Mosher, Thomas Baker, Bud Murrin, Derrick Hickey, and Melvin Stone are all students at the Learning Centre in Comer Brook. They got together .and expressed their concern in this story.

Oil Prices

The price of oil is ridiculous. We have to use more wood now and that is getting more expensive. There are many places you are not allowed to cut so you have to go further to get it.

We will all soon freeze to death if we don't starve to death first! The truckers are not bringing in any food. The food on the trucks is going to spoil. The government is not going to do anything about it because they are making too much money. It's affecting everyone, especially the stores. They are running out of fresh food and losing money. Soon they will have to start lying off people and the government will have to payout more money in unemployment.

Gas is so expensive you can't even take your family for a Sunday drive. Many people are forced to walk to work. You can't go for a ride on your ski-doo or use your snow blower. When this is allover, someone will have to pay. Stores will want to get their money back. We will have to pay more for groceries. Everyone will be eating Newfie steaks!

Activity One:

This story shows the frustrations people have about the rising prices of oil and gasoline. Find four things in the story the students are concerned about. Today people are much more dependent on gasoline. Name five machines people use that require gasoline in order to operate.

Click here for Activity Two - Math Quiz