Official Languages committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to give you a number of facts this morning. The first is that translation plays a vital role in applying the Official Languages Act. It's what allows Canadians to exercise their constitutional right not to speak the other official language. It's

Official Languages committee  My last three recommendations are to use the federal government's purchasing power to develop the translation industry, to amend the Official Languages Act to include the importance of translation, and to ensure adequate funding for university training programs in translation and

Official Languages committee  The act wasn't amended, Mr. Godin. It was just an administrative change. The Translation Bureau Act has been unchanged since it was enacted in 1934. The federal government simply decided, because that was popular with the government—

Official Languages committee  I'm not sure.

Official Languages committee  Okay.

Official Languages committee  I would be pleased to send the wording of these amendments to you later, because I don't have it with me. As I stated in the first two facts of my speech, translation plays a crucial role in the application of the Official Languages Act. The word “translation” isn't even in the

Official Languages committee  No.

Official Languages committee  The indications I have are that the blockage is in the federal government, specifically Treasury Board. So that’s where you should intervene.

Official Languages committee  I can confirm that there is currently a shortage of interpreters on Parliament Hill. Accreditation is done by the Translation Bureau, and there's a problem with this right now. That's why my fourth recommendation is to strengthen translation and interpretation training programs

Official Languages committee  Yes, there are accredited interpreters. Interpretation is provided both by people from the private sector and by public servants from the Translation Bureau, a combination that doesn't pose a problem. We need to work with Parliament, the House and the Senate to create the best p

Official Languages committee  In Canada, there is a looming and growing shortage.

Official Languages committee  Absolutely, and that makes the role of the Translation Bureau very difficult. Take interpretation, for example the bureau no longer provides interpretation for conferences given by departments, but now devotes all its resources to Parliament Hill. I want to clarify something. I

Official Languages committee  I can’t tell you more because the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec will be called to appear in this matter. So I would prefer not to comment on it.

Official Languages committee  As I said earlier, it would be a good idea to enshrine translation and its importance to the application of the Official Languages Act. Respect for the fundamental constitutional right not to speak the other official language and to obtain quality services and documentation in th

Official Languages committee  Since the creation of the Bureau in 1934, and until 1995, it was mandatory to go through the Translation Bureau. Departments did not have to pay for these services because parliamentary appropriations were allocated to the bureau. The user‑pay concept has been in place for 27 ye