If we look at the principles behind open data, we see that the idea is to get complete primary information as soon as possible. We understand that it is urgent to have access to this information, but, for documents like that, a delay in translation could hinder access, openness of data, freedom, transparency, and so on. That’s just a personal opinion. And it shouldn’t be used as an excuse to stop translating documents altogether. Access to information and translation are not mandatory. Do you see that? When we talk about open data, what is important is to have access to this information.
Let’s use me as an example. I did my PhD in French in Montreal, but to do that, I had to read texts in English. Americans and students from Toronto were asking me how I was managing to do my PhD in French. I told them that I was able to do it, but that I was reading in English, French, German and Spanish. They only read in English. So they had a problem. I probably am a little more open-minded, but regardless of that, I would not wait for the documents to be translated into French to access them. Yet I know that a document that is considered to be very important is eventually going to be translated. People take time to translate it. As to denying access to the document, that really must be on a case-by-case basis. It’s a judgment call.