Thank you for your question. I should have mentioned that. Currently, we are conducting a pilot project of exactly that type at 10 unilingual sites in Canada. It began in May 2010 and will continue until May 2011. The pilot project is to test interpretation by telephone. The system is called CanTalk. It is just as you describe, a three-way conversation: the Service Canada officer, the customer and the interpreter. The interpretation service is provided by telephone. This year, once this 12-month pilot projet is over, we will be able to assess the results of this service. We may consider broadening the use of the service if the results warrant. Implementing the service in 10 centres is not expensive: it costs us $13,000 for one year.
On March 8th, 2011. See this statement in context.