Evidence of meeting #35 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rcmp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director of Official Languages, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
No. I can't answer that.
Liberal
Director of Official Languages, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The number of news releases, for example, the information distributed and published, requires more than one person.
December 2nd, 2010 / 10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I have 30 seconds. Okay.
How many? Has the number been calculated? Is it known?
Supt Tim Cogan
With the news releases distributed every day in British Columbia by the RCMP, it depends on the day, but it's about 20 per day.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
Thank you.
Ms. Ferreira, can you tell me how many RCMP translators there are in Canada who translate from English to French?
Director of Official Languages, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
I couldn't tell you exactly. The number varies. So, I would have to get back to you on that.
Director of Official Languages, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Of course.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
Can you also get back to me on the number of translators there were in Canada, and by province, in 1990, 2000, and then from 2000 to 2010?
Can you do that for us?
Supt Tim Cogan
Mr. Chair, I'd like to offer a comment.
You're talking about internal RCMP resources.
Supt Tim Cogan
I think it's important to understand that in my capacity as director general of communications, I use multiple services to accomplish the translation requirements of the organization. I use our internal services. I use PWGSC services. I use contractors where they're needed. I use an overnight service that is supplied by Treasury Board of Canada. There are a number of different ways of accomplishing the translation requirements that don't necessarily require an on-staff person to be there.
I would like to respond to Mr. Nadeau's comment earlier when he said we have one translator in B.C. Yes, we have one full-time equivalent person who does provide translation services for a number of business lines within the policing community in B.C. They also have access to PWGSC, Treasury Board services, contractors, our services centrally in headquarters, and the divisional translation services in other provinces. There is a network of available people to do the work.
The question is prioritization. That is the challenge I was referring to with Monsieur Nadeau. It is an ongoing struggle in a certain region of the country to keep them focused on the importance of compliance. That is the struggle I was talking about.
I don't think it's a reflection of the overall mentality of the organization with respect to its obligations under the Official Languages Act. If you look at the websites for the other provinces, you will find them compliant, in all aspects. There is not one that is not compliant.
We have a challenge in one area of the country, and we readily admit that. We are trying to deal with that in as expeditious a manner as possible. As I said, sometimes it's not as clear to some as it should be. Our job is to continue pushing on that.
With your help, and I understand there is an offer to help, we will get there. It is what we want.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
To clarify something you mentioned, I'm interested in the RCMP numbers.
A/Commr Daniel Dubeau
We will try to get that for you. I am not sure we have the information for 1990, but we'll look. We'll go back as far as we can.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
Okay.
I would also like to have the data for 2000 to 2010, for each year.
