At the translation bureau, we have seen attrition and a reduction in the number of positions. A few years ago, there were 1,300 employees, I believe. Now there are 800. This trend can only continue if the status quo is maintained. For our part, we firmly believe it is time for action.
It is the translation bureau as a flagship that, together with all translators, will uphold the linguistic rights of Canadians and linguistic duality. An important part of that role is making provisions for the next generation.
As I said earlier, we train students who will earn their degrees and become certified. They can in turn help uphold the linguistic rights of Canadians. The economic and commercial aspects must also be considered. We live in an increasingly globalized world, in a knowledge-based economy, and we need languages, which are the prime conduit of communication.