Question Period Note: Translation Bureau virtual interpretation capacity

Public Service and Procurement Canada’s Translation Bureau continues to work with the House Administration, Senate Administration and all partners to support Parliament’s virtual sittings and to ensure capacity while faced with an unprecedented volume of remote interpretation requests and a worldwide shortage in the interpretation profession.

• The Translation Bureau is committed to providing quality linguistic services in support of Parliament and federal government departments and agencies
  • The Translation Bureau is committed to increasing and optimizing its interpretation capacity while protecting the health and safety of its interpreters
  • The conference interpretation profession is a shortage group, not only in Canada, but around the world
  • As the Translation Bureau is facing an unprecedented volume of remote interpretation requests, it is working with clients to plan and monitor demand carefully, leveraging contracts where appropriate
  • The Translation Bureau serves Parliament on a priority basis and works in close collaboration with its parliamentary partners to support Parliament’s virtual sittings, assign priorities and to plan for future demand

If pressed on the House Administration’s pilot project:

• The House Administration is running a pilot project to explore the feasibility of off-site interpretation. The Translation Bureau and its accredited freelance interpreters are participating in the pilot project to provide expertise
• Any questions pertaining to the pilot project should be directed to the House Administration

If pressed on accreditation:

• To expand its pool of accredited interpreters, the Translation Bureau holds an annual accreditation exam that is open to people who meet the eligibility criteria

If pressed on contracts with accredited freelance interpreters:

• Demand for interpretation services can fluctuate greatly, and the Translation Bureau appreciates the efforts of accredited freelance interpreters, who continue to provide their services to respond to this varying demand
• Public Services and Procurement Canada issues a call for tenders on behalf of the Translation Bureau every two years, with the goal of awarding open contracts for interpretation services in official languages
• The open contract process was established in consultation with the Canadian interpreter community
• In 2021–2022, open contracts were awarded to 88 accredited interpreters, 57 of whom indicated that they were willing to work for Parliament

If pressed on the next generation of interpreters:

• The Translation Bureau works in collaboration with the two universities that offer the Master’s degree in interpretation, University of Ottawa and York University, to train the next generation of interpreters
• The Translation Bureau is engaging with stakeholders in Canada’s language sector, including academic community groups and professional associations, to find ways to encourage a new generation of accredited interpreters

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Translation Bureau has worked closely with the House Administration on the implementation of virtual parliamentary meetings. Demand for interpretation services can fluctuate greatly. To better meet demand, the Translation Bureau collaborates with its clients to plan and prioritize their needs in advance, and retains the services of freelancers as required. The Translation Bureau serves Parliament in priority and works closely with the House Administration, which determines where resources are allocated based on House priorities. When demand exceeds capacity for a given time slot, the House administration consults party whips to obtain direction on which meetings will obtain the resources required.

House Administration pilot project

The House Administration is currently running a pilot project to explore the feasibility of off-site interpretation. Following Motion 11, the Board of Internal Economy authorized the Administration to make use of external and/or remote interpretation services as an adjunct to the current services provided by the Translation Bureau, with a preference for the use of the Translation Bureau employees and freelancers when they are available, and that this be a pilot project with a duration of up to six months, provided that an interim report be provided by September 2022, that the Translation Bureau be involved in all steps of the implementation plan, and that the systems implemented meet current quality standards.

Contracts with freelance interpreters

The Translation Bureau has seen a significant increase in distance interpretation since the beginning of the pandemic. A new open contract for interpretation was developed in consultation with the interpreter community and came into effect on July 1, 2021.

These procurement processes are important for the Translation Bureau’s capacity to deliver services in collaboration with the freelance interpreter community. That said, accredited freelance interpreters are also solicited by the private sector, and the Translation Bureau has to work with the availability they provide, which is why the number of resources available varies on a daily basis.

Accreditation

The Translation Bureau holds an annual accreditation exam that is open to candidates who meet the eligibility criteria. As the Bureau only hires accredited interpreters, candidates are required to pass this exam.

Next generation of interpreters

The conference interpretation profession is a shortage group, not only in Canada, but around the world. There are only two Canadian Universities that offer the Masters programs in interpretation and the Translation Bureau hires all graduates who meet the Bureau’s quality standards.

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