Evidence of meeting #15 for Official Languages in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was interpreters.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Dr. Stoll, my colleague Ms. Martinez Ferrada mentioned the fact that not much has been invested in recruiting and training new interpreters. I think she's right. There's almost a shortage at the moment.
Shouldn't the fact that there isn't much availability of workers be an incentive for us to take care of this human resource?
If they are injured on the job and go on sick leave one after the other, the very functioning of Parliament can be called into question.
4:25 p.m.
Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow, Conference Interpreting Programme, University of Heidelberg, As an Individual
Exactly. I agree.
From what I have learned, I've only talked to some of your interpreters, but 70% of people are experiencing problems. Those are the ones, they said during the Tuesday meeting as part of their study, who are working. Some of them can't work because they don't have child care and that sort of thing.
Absolutely, I would not ruin the health of the few people who are still really able to bear that load and to work under these conditions, because it requires a very robust technique and very robust health to be able to function under these conditions.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
This Zoom platform wasn't designed to be able to speak and listen at the same time, which is the essence of an interpreter's job.
Do you think the hearing injuries of the interpreters we're talking about are permanent, or can they be healed after a certain amount of time?
4:25 p.m.
Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow, Conference Interpreting Programme, University of Heidelberg, As an Individual
We found during our review of classes and mock conferences that there were both. There is trauma from sudden sound—for instance, somebody dropping a microphone or putting down their headset. Also, there is long-term degradation of hearing, which is both permanent and non-permanent.
The non-permanent type was experienced by our trainers, by me. I had to walk outside and hear the leaves rustle to confirm that my hearing was coming back after two 90-minute sessions.
The students, after taking two 20-minute turns during classes, have reported, on occasion of a questionnaire we had before and after every session, transient hearing loss as well. That was from two times 20 minutes, which is much shorter than a conference interpreter typically works during a working day.
As well, there is a well-founded suspicion of long-term hearing damage or degradation because of the higher listening volumes from other fields, not from conference interpreting but from other studies with similar sound pressure levels.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I'd like to ask all my colleagues to be able to ask one last question in 30 seconds.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Unanimous consent would be required. Also understand that I had to cancel the last five-minute round of questions because there was no time left. It's already 4:30 p.m., Mr. Généreux, so I'm sorry. Dr. Stoll has promised to answer our questions in writing, so we'll be able to make that connection through the clerk. Then, as you know, we're going to suspend the meeting to move on to the second part of the meeting, which is still very important for the continuation of our work. I'm very sorry, Mr. Généreux.
Dr. Stoll, I would like to thank you on behalf of all the members of the Committee. As Mr. Boulerice mentioned, you have followed and listened to us in order to prepare for this meeting. It was a real pleasure to hear you. You are an expert. We'll stay in touch.
Please do not hesitate to send us any information that could help us before we write our report.
I would like to say thank you so much, and good evening to you, Mr. Stoll. Thank you for coming.
Colleagues, we will now suspend the meeting and proceed to the second part of the meeting, which will be held in camera. You have received the link to connect to this meeting.
February 4th, 2021 / 4:30 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Josée Harrison
Mr. Dubourg, I'm sorry to interrupt you. Before ending the meeting, I just want to let you know that there are raised hands.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Okay. I'll start with the participants who raised their hands first.
Mrs. Lalonde, you have the floor.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
It's a point of order.
I don't think I've received the link for the second part of the meeting. I've looked through all the emails that were sent to me. I can ask my team to find it, but do you know what time the most recent information was sent?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Yes. It was sent in the same email that contained the link to this meeting. It was a little further down in the email.
If you can't find the link, we'll send it to you.
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
So we have to disconnect from this meeting and connect to the other using the other link.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Chair, I would have invited you to seek the unanimous consent of the committee concerning Dr. Stoll. Committee members may have wished to take an additional two minutes.
In any case, since the subject doesn't appear to be closed, we can come back to it at the in-camera meeting.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Yes, exactly. We'll have an opportunity to talk about it.
Thank you very much.
[Proceedings continue in camera.]