Evidence of meeting #12 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was zoom.
A recording is available from Parliament.
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Sorry, that was a professor on the last panel.
No, actually, she is right there.
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
8:20 p.m.
Prof. Cristine de Clercy
Madam Chair, thank you for the question.
I have not carefully tracked what other legislatures have moved to online voting. Some of the witnesses here have mentioned some like [Inaudible--Editor] for example.
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you, Professor de Clercy. I looked at the Inter-Parliamentary Union's website yesterday, which has been updated. It includes Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Poland, Spain and, I believe, it is also under consideration in the U.K. and Estonia.
Thank you.
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
8:20 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Thank you, Madam Chair. I didn't realize I had another round. That's fine. I do have some questions, so I'm happy to take it.
With regard to the interpretation, I think our witness from Zoom was asked about translation and [Technical difficulty—Editor]
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Mr. Richards, if it's your phone, could you move that away again? There's a lot of static.
8:20 p.m.
Conservative
8:20 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Is it better now? Okay.
In regard to the platform that we are currently using, Ms. Blaney asked a question about translation. Translation and interpretation are in fact two different things, obviously, and the answer with regard to translation was that it is available, but simultaneous interpretation is another matter.
I've been told—and I have not verified this—that on Zoom and other available platforms simultaneous interpretation is not something that's available, and that the House of Commons has had to make some accommodations to piggyback on Zoom to be able to make simultaneous interpretation work.
I'll ask the Translation Bureau. Can you verify whether simultaneous interpretation is in fact something you're using through Zoom, or is it something where a workaround has had to be figured out?
Maybe I'll also give Mr. Moseley a chance to indicate whether simultaneous interpretation is something that's available on the platform.
8:20 p.m.
Vice-President, Service to Parliament and Interpretation, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Thank you for the question.
The Translation Bureau is not responsible for the technological aspects related to interpretation. That question would be best directed to the House administration, to those responsible for multimedia.
8:20 p.m.
Conservative
8:20 p.m.
Vice-President, Service to Parliament and Interpretation, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
8:20 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Okay. No problem. It certainly is a question that we can save, and we do have the opportunity again next week.
Mr. Moseley, [Technical difficulty—Editor] about translation. What about simultaneous interpretation? Is it available through the platform currently?
8:25 p.m.
Harry Moseley
Madam Chair, thank you for the question. I'm not sure I understand what “simultaneous interpretation” is.
8:25 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Okay. I could probably best let our Translation Bureau explain it. I think I could explain it, but they would probably explain it better, so maybe I'll let them do that, but essentially the difference is that translation is—
8:25 p.m.
Harry Moseley
I understand translation.
8:25 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Yes, someone speaks and translation is provided after they've finished speaking. In simultaneous interpretation, it's that as the person is speaking, the interpretation, the translation, is being done in real time, essentially.
8:25 p.m.
Harry Moseley
Got it.
8:25 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
If you want a better explanation, I can let the Translation Bureau—
8:25 p.m.
Harry Moseley
No, I'm good now. Thank you.
Our simultaneous interpretation of the spoken language is real time, and it's done as part of the existing platform.
8:25 p.m.
Harry Moseley
There are no add-ins to that.
8:25 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
As you're speaking, I can be hearing what you're saying in another language at the same time.