Procedure and House Affairs committee  The question is whether it was adjusted for the number of interpreters in Canada, is that right?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It was a survey done online with the International Association of Conference Interpreters, the AIIC. They are interpreters from all fields, people who work in the private sector or at Parliament. No study has been done relating precisely to parliamentary interpreters. As well, people were free to respond to the survey or not.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  In fact, I said there was no consensus as to what constitutes an acoustic shock. Acoustic shock is not recognized as a clinical entity by everyone. My colleague said earlier that different terms are used. For example, we might also talk about noise trauma.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I have not had an opportunity to read those reports. I participated in a meeting with the NRC, at the outset, when it created its protocol, but I have not received or read the report, unfortunately, so I cannot comment on it. However, I think that all the research initiatives are heading in the right direction.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I agree entirely with my colleague. It is a matter of due diligence.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Again, as long as we do not know the exact cause of the symptoms, it will be difficult to know whether one thing or another has to be reduced. Is it the quantity, the volume, the exposure to loud sounds over a long period, or exposure to noise spikes, as was mentioned earlier? We can adjust if the interpreters report problems.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I will start. I think we have to be vigilant and proceed carefully, because there are risks for the interpreters.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I will answer quickly. It is up to the committee to decide whether that is to continue or not. There are a host of variables associated with democracy and with other parameters. In terms of health and safety, if we continue going forward, I think it will have to be adjusted better to minimize the risks to the interpreters.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I wanted to add that there are several factors to be considered. Yes, there is the technological aspect, but there is also the work environment. A person is in a certain work environment and tries to regulate the sound in the room. For example, I am at home right now. I would have liked to be at Parliament, but I was only given the notice to appear yesterday.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The first thing to do is listen to them. The interpreters who report symptoms are the ones who know the symptoms best. After how much time, and after what kind of meeting, are they most likely to experience them? So you have to start by listening to the interpreters when they report symptoms.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Members of the committee, it is a privilege to be invited to appear as a witness. My name is Philippe Fournier. I am an audiologist and a professor and researcher in the rehabilitation department of the faculty of medicine at Université Laval. The objective of my research is to better understand the mechanisms and consequences of various hearing disorders, such as tinnitus, which takes the form of whistling or buzzing in the ears, hyperacusis, which is reported as hypersensitivity to loud sounds, and other symptoms such as the feeling of having blocked ears and ear pain.