CITIZENSHIP AND LITERACY

For new Canadians, it is difficult for those
who aren’t literate in their first language
to become literate in a second language.
Often, the language assistance available
isn’t enough for newcomers. ⁵

People with low literacy skills may find it hard to get
information on their citizen rights
and duties. Literacy allows them to vote
and participate in civic life.

The proportion of immigrants
at the lowest level of literacy is larger than
the proportion of those born in Canada
who are at this level.¹¹

New Canadians who may not be able to read
or write in English may be highly literate
in the language they learned in childhood.