About 22% of Canada's adults have serious difficulty dealing with printed materials, and identify themselves as having difficulties reading.
	Another 24-26% of the adult population can read but not well. They can deal only with material that is simple and clearly laid out. They do not have the skills to cope with unfamiliar or complex reading material. Most of these people said they avoid situations that require reading. (Reading the Future: A Portrait of literacy in Canada, 1997)

The survey results show that material that is clear and easy to read can be used by a wider audience. Changing the way we write can make it easier for up to 26% more people to begin to get information from print. If we want to reach the people who say they avoid reading, or include people whose first language is not English, we must keep them in mind as we write. Our print material must invite readers to begin reading, and our writing must make it easy for them to get our message.

Public education materials that are written clearly benefit the whole community.

	Public education materials that are written clearly benefit the whole community. Literacy programs have a better choice of relevant, topical teaching material.
	Community programs have a better chance of reaching the people they were designed for.
	People who don't read well have a better chance of finding out important information that affects their lives.
	The whole community can benefit from greater participation by all its citizens.