—82% of the time.
Evidence of meeting #15 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was services.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #15 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was services.
A video is available from Parliament.
Vice-President, Corporate Services, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
—82% of the time.
Vice-President, Linguistic Services, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
We are able to meet needs 82% of the time. That's a normal percentage. However, for urgent requests, we negotiate with the client. We sometimes receive requests that must be completed the same day within a few hours. It always depends on the case and on various considerations, but we are always ready to negotiate. At the same time, we are currently considering a number of other factors that will affect the service, and we want to properly identify those factors for the clients. I believe that we could provide an even better service, but urgent requests and events always come up. That is when we negotiate with the clients. We have employees who can meet needs.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Okay.
Can we know how many translations are from English into French and vice versa?
Vice-President, Linguistic Services, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Yes, we can give you the data. I don't have the numbers with me.
Chief Executive Officer, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Most translations are from English to French.
Vice-President, Business Strategies and Partnerships, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
If you would like, I can give you more specific data.
We translate about 754 million words a year, and there are obviously more texts translated from English into French. We can tell you the exact percentage.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Okay. Since we are the official languages committee, I will ask the question in English.
In terms of quality control, you mention that you do a verification of the translation that's been done. If you see with a supplier or an internal person that the quality is not there, is there some training that is provided, or will you look for another supplier?
Vice-President, Linguistic Services, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Thank you for the question.
I think, as it relates to our external contracts, it's similar with almost any contracting vehicle. We have a quality assurance process, and we do take a look at the different providers, especially if there's one where we're seeing a consistency and there's a concern with the level of quality we're getting out of them. You would usually start out with a conversation and work your way down to see if this is something that's a bit more permanent, in which case we do have the ability to knock off suppliers if they're not responding to our needs.
Internally it becomes a human resource issue. Is the person not well trained or simply performing poorly? You investigate and then you respond accordingly.
Liberal
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Is this tool available for MPs?
Chief Executive Officer, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Not yet. We decided to manage it for the core public service. We are looking at plans in terms of further expansion to other organizations, but right now we just focus on the 33 core government departments.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Will it be this year that it will be available for MPs?
Chief Executive Officer, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
We have to look at what the costs are and how the tool is performing.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
What do you mean the cost? We already paid the CNRC.
Chief Executive Officer, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
We are looking at maintenance and upgrading. We just launched the tool. We launched it small, we're seeing how it performs, and then we are looking at how to expand it across other organizations, including Parliament and the House of Commons.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you very much, Ms. Achimov.
Thank you as well to your colleagues for their responses.
Chief Executive Officer, Translation Bureau, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
I would like to remind committee members that we are meeting in camera on Wednesday.
Do you have anything to add, Mr. Lefebvre?
Liberal
Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON
I little birdie told me the Commissioner of Official Languages will not be available on June 8. We need to choose another date.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
That's a smart birdie.
