Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 1st, 2018

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Really?

[Melissa Saganash]

Yes.

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

That's very interesting. I'm glad I asked the question. That's really something, because my next question deals with—

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

You don't have a next question.

Mr. Nater.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to follow up a little on Mr. Simms' comments, so maybe I'll ask his question. Who knows?

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Thank you so much.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

From the aspect of the cost of moving the government interpretation or translation, if it's fully portable now, there are very minimal additional costs beyond what you've already invested, because you've done it that way.

[Melissa Saganash]

The agreement that provides for the three languages was signed in 2012. To be honest, it was a bit of trial and error in the beginning. At first, we were renting everything, so we had providers bringing in the equipment. It didn't take very long for us to realize that it would be a lot more efficient and cost-saving if we actually bought the equipment. Then it would become ours. The services would become the regional government's, and we would be providing that.

[Johanne Lacasse]

In terms of cost-effectiveness, as I mentioned, we are subject to the call for tenders process. We've also learned from that call for tenders experience. We've recently hired a new simultaneous translation service provider. This is done every two years. When we change our service provider, we need to take the time to explain certain situations in terms of travel in very remote areas, and the service provider needs to integrate and work with the radio broadcast technicians. They need to learn to work hand in hand with our live streaming technicians.

Yes, there is the cost factor involved, and of course, we work with the service providers that submit the lowest bids. The budgets are forecast in accordance with the bids submitted by the service providers.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Basically, you send out a tender, or a request for proposals, saying you need interpretation or translation services for six meetings that have to.... Then different companies that have interpreters on staff would then provide you with that—

[Johanne Lacasse]

That's correct for the English-French translation. Of course, we have a bank of Cree interpreters available who are integrated within the services provided by the simultaneous translation service provider.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Now in terms of the Cree interpreters, you mentioned in the opening comments four different dialects that were common. Do you have four separate Cree interpreters, or is it kind of hit and miss, in terms of how that operates?

[Johanne Lacasse]

These are local. I mentioned that the locations of the meetings alternate.

We don't have interpreters with different dialects. It's on the basis that the Crees have been holding public meetings since the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, the JBNQA. They've always found a way to communicate. I don't think it's necessary, at this point in time, to find people with the various dialects. They have a common understanding. They've been working together since the signing of the agreement.

In terms of the process, we do have a concern about providing opportunities to the local people while we're visiting their community, while holding our council meetings. These people normally have a minimum quality of translation skills. They've been doing it for court proceedings, medical services, and their own public meetings.

I have to say that we don't necessarily have a problem with attracting Cree interpreters, because our Cree citizens feel very strongly about self-governance initiatives. From that perspective, they're proud to serve, and proud to serve their institutions—the regional government, the Cree Nation Government, or any other Cree entity that holds public meetings within their institutions. I think they feel compelled to serve in the capacity of providing the interpretation services, to serve the public and our citizens.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

That's really great to hear.

In terms of the age of those who provide services, are there many who are younger who are providing the services? What's the age category?

I know Mr. Saganash has spoken of his mother, who is an exceptional Cree speaker. Are there younger generations who know the language and are also providing the interpretation services?

[Johanne Lacasse]

I think we need to promote and encourage the younger generation to provide this quality interpretation service.

I was discussing it earlier this morning with Melissa, and I was saying that we have an older generation of elected officials who have now retired, and we call upon their services. They have the practical experience in the political and administrative field. They're often available, because they're retired. They also have a general knowledge of our council proceedings.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

The challenge about the two separate phone lines.... If I'm calling into a meeting as an elected representative, and I speak at the meeting, am I able to both be translated out and then translated back in at the same time?

[Johanne Lacasse]

Yes, that's the magic that Melissa was referring to, absolutely.

I don't have the technical knowledge—

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

But it happens.

[Johanne Lacasse]

Yes, we make it happen. Our technicians make it happen.

[Melissa Saganash]

The technicians arrive the evening before the proceedings begin. This way they're able to set up and iron out any kinks, if there are any.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

We will now go to Mr. Saganash.

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to our presenters.

I'm quite amazed that this regional government has managed to turn around so fast after the signing of that agreement with Quebec and was able to work together so fast with the non-indigenous population through this institution. After 50 years of both peoples ignoring each other, I think what you guys have gone through, over the last couple of years only, is quite fascinating.

It's always a pleasure to have a family member at the committee. I had my nephew, a fire chief, here not too long ago in another committee. I'm really honoured to have my niece here.

[Melissa Saganash]

It's an honour to be here.

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

I will begin with you, Mr. Séror.

I listened closely to your presentation. You talked about how important languages are for humanity, and also about intercomprehension, a term I had never heard before, I believe. You mentioned provisions in a variety of agreements that were signed in the north, in the territories, including Nunavut. Melissa referred to article 13 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in which United Nations member states are called upon to take all possible measures to ensure that indigenous peoples can be understood in various institutions, including political ones. Coincidentally, Call to Action number 13 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada speaks of indigenous languages as being ancestral rights under the Constitution.

What I'm interested in—and you touched on this—are the effects the recognition of an indigenous language has on the communities that speak this language. Clearly, they will be positive if the use of the language is recognized in an institution such as the Parliament of Canada.

I would like this process to be more than symbolic. That is important to me. Can you tell us more about the positive effects it would have?

I believe you said that indigenous languages should perhaps have the same status as English and French, the country's two official languages. I often raise this issue, and I would like you to expand on it. The effects—I'm referring to the positive effects on indigenous languages—would be more than just symbolic.