Official Languages Committee on Oct. 7th, 2025

[Jean-François Lymburner]

That is a very good question.

First, I make sure that the translation bureau uses its expertise to develop tools that represent Canadian French and English, which will help to enhance confidence in interpretation services.

I know from experience that there is not always speedy access in the public service to the many meetings held in English or French. Since facilities like the ones we have access to here today are not always available, there are tools that could help a colleague who is not as comfortable in French to better follow the discussions taking place today, for example.

Those tools even include software that could have evaluated the quality of my French today, if they had listened to me. Those tools are somewhat different from the services we offer at the bureau, but they are starting to be available. Some colleagues will be using them to evaluate themselves and monitor their progress.

Tools like the Zoom app, which you are familiar with, are changing from month to month. In the public service, we use a different one of the same type. Some tools even offer the option of selecting a language for subtitles.

I think these tools are going to enhance confidence in our services.

When people have good tools, they use their mother tongue more. I am the first to do that. Using artificial intelligence makes it possible for me to improve the quality of my translations.

In addition, we work a lot with groups of scientists on developing scientific tools in French, because, as we know, the working language in the sciences is mainly English.

We are noticing that people are using their language of choice more often, thanks to the tools, in which they have increasing confidence.

The tools do not have only negative effects.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Thank you. Your time is up.

I will now give the floor to Mr. Beaulieu for two and a half minutes.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Earlier, you said you did regular evaluations of the quality of interpretation services but there was no report.

Do you prepare reports internally, at least, to get an idea about how quality may be changing?

[Annie Plouffe]

Thank you for your question.

The reports are compiled by the deputy director, the director of interpretation, who reviews them and ensures that the training and mentoring provided by the teams are adjusted, where necessary.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Have you observed a connection between the advent of hybrid Parliament and the quality of interpretation?

[Jean-François Lymburner]

The main problems associated with the advent of hybrid Parliament relate to health and safety.

I have taken part in meetings where interpreters were asked whether the content of what was said, the tone, and the vigorous debate bothered them, and their unanimous answer was no. What bothered them and affected them the most were the incidents in the booth.

In that regard, we have made pretty good progress and we are providing much more stable conditions. I spoke earlier about the decline in incidents—

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

I have heard about the report of a study commissioned by the translation bureau at the University of Ottawa that made a connection between hybrid meetings and the rising prevalence of hearing injuries.

Is that in fact the case?

[Jean-François Lymburner]

That is a good question.

Yes, we worked with the University of Ottawa to collect data about sound.

Regarding the standards relating to occupational diseases and on-site sound limiters, we meet all those standards, because the booths are done properly.

Now, we need to know what the impact of sound that comes in by phone is, but there is just no data on that subject available anywhere in the world.

So we worked with the University of Ottawa, which measured interpreters' hearing health. We are now measuring sound pressure. I won't go into the details, but dosimetry is going to be used to measure the quality and pressure of sound on the ear.

We are working on acquiring knowledge about which data does not yet exist.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

You have 15 seconds left.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

The International Association of Conference Interpreters is concerned because the new contracts no longer include provisions on protecting interpreters' hearing health.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Be very brief.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Do you think there is a reason for that?

[Annie Plouffe]

I can guarantee that every measure that has been put in place to protect interpreters' hearing health and safety apply to both employees and freelance interpreters. It applies to everyone. Whether or not it is in the contract, the measures are here to stay. All interpreters benefit from the technological innovations arising from the studies we do.

Yes, the reference to them is brief, but we did not feel a need to describe them, since they are included in the commitments we have made and we will never be going back on those measures, for anyone.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

Thank you. Time is up.

On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank the witnesses.

Thank you very much, Mr. Lymburner, Ms. Plouffe and Ms. Levesque.

Colleagues, our next meeting will be on Thursday, October 9, and will deal with the minority-language education continuum.

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adjourn?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yvan Baker]

The meeting is adjourned.