Official Languages committee  I will look into what we can do in terms of projections as soon as possible and we will be in touch with the clerk.

Official Languages committee  Yes. That goes to the basics, meaning compliance with the Official Languages Act. Has the commissioner already appeared before you? If not, is he scheduled to appear? I am sure that he will speak on the issue more eloquently than I can today. Clearly, the Official Languages Act has been sacrificed on the altar of austerity.

Official Languages committee  It will take more than that. If we want to reposition the Bureau as the go-to place for the public service as a whole, we will need more than just reverting to the status quo ante. We will have to manage growth. As I said, our economists will be able to carry out an analysis to see what that might mean in practical terms.

Official Languages committee  I will let my colleague André tell you more about that. Personally, I would say that they are not mutually exclusive. The role of one place can be to ensure quality control. The centralization of translation in an organization such as the Translation Bureau, which might fall under Canadian Heritage or another department, is important.

Official Languages committee  We can also continue the way we are. The fact remains that the objective of quality and respect for linguistic duality should be the top priority. Colocalization has already given results. The approach has been to save money by nickel and diming, and going backwards.

Official Languages committee  I have nothing to add to what Mr. Picotte said.

Official Languages committee  That is also affecting high-quality employees, students graduating from university, either from University of Ottawa or UQO. Their opportunities are relatively limited. In addition, this means that the jobs available to them are precarious. Our proposal is to strengthen the Translation Bureau so that it can once again become the natural place for top graduates who may look forward to joining.

Official Languages committee  Yes, but at different levels. Clearly, to ensure that the services are available to Canadians in the language of their choice, the translated documents must meet the required standard of quality. Historically, the Translation Bureau has vouched for that quality. It is not certain that this is the case for all departments, including those that have decided to go to the private sector exclusively or those using the so-called phantom translation units.

Official Languages committee  I would really like to know whether she gave you an answer, because our unit has already taken part in several rounds of negotiations; we are asking the employer to give us an idea of the way in which it calculates costs when it signs an agreement with a department. We are trying to find out the basis on which costs are calculated and how it can then claim that costs are fair for Canadians.

Official Languages committee  I think they hired three or four interpreters.

Official Languages committee  No, not as far as we know.

Official Languages committee  No.

Official Languages committee  That does not affect the quality, Mr. Vandal.

Official Languages committee  That is incredible.

Official Languages committee  The Translation Bureau no longer has the monopoly. Ms. Achimov, uses the example of Fisheries and Oceans Canada as a shining example of the need to continue with a business approach, otherwise departments will no longer use its services. Fisheries and Oceans Canada decided on its own to establish a small group to manage translations and to use freelancers.