Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages Concerning the modernization of the Official Languages Act by the International ...
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Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on
Official Languages
Concerning the modernization of the Official Languages Act
by the
International Association of Conference Interpreters –
Canada Region
30 May 2021Introduction
The International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) Canada region is the only national
professional association representing conference interpreters including those who are federally-
accredited and work as freelancers and permanent staff for the Translation Bureau. Membership in the
Association is voluntary. Even so, the vast majority of federally-accredited interpreters belong.
Interpretation brings the Official Languages Act to life. Without this service, Canada could not survive as
an officially bilingual country that guarantees communication and service to its citizens in either official
language with equal quality.
That said, statutory guarantees of parliamentary, legislative and judicial bilingualism, as well as
guarantees for services to and communications with the public, are in danger of becoming little more
than empty words because Canada is losing its interpretation capability. This circumstance is single-
handedly undermining the guarantees offered to Canadians by the Official Languages Act.
ENGLISH AND FRENCH: TOWARDS A SUBSTANTIVE EQUALITY OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES IN CANADA
We welcome the opportunity to comment on the federal government’s plans to modernize the Official
Languages Act. There is much to commend.
We agree with the Minister when she notes:
“…the world is changing. The development of digital technology and international trade is favouring the
use of English. As a result, the use of French is declining in Canada and its vitality is a cause for concern.
We recognize that French is a minority language compared to English and that we have an increased duty
to protect it. In order to achieve substantive equality between our two official languages, we must take
concrete action.”
The Minister further declares:
“The federal government must play a leading role in bilingualism.”
And we take heart that the consultation document declares that A founding principle of modernization
will be to ensure the Government of Canada leads by example through increasing compliance of federal
institutions.
We are especially pleased to note that the government proposes to “Strengthen the role of translation
and interpretation functions within the federal administrative apparatus, notably the Translation Bureau.”
The Beginning
From its very beginning the Official Languages Act “guaranteed the equality of status of English and
French in Parliament, federal laws and courts, and gave Canadians the right to be served by and to
communicate with federal institutions in the official language of their choice.”
Simultaneous interpretation has enabled language equality in Parliament and throughout the federal
government since it was first established in the House of Commons in 1959 following the unanimous
2adoption of a motion proposed by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker in the House of Commons.1 At the
time, a team of seven interpreters assumed responsibility for interpreting all debates.
The parliamentary simultaneous interpretation service grew rapidly during these early years and some 60
interpreters’ booths were installed on Parliament Hill, and in federal departments and buildings across
the country starting in the mid-1970s.2 In more recent years, the number of official language interpreters
working as staff for the Translation Bureau has actually declined by 13% over the past decade, in spite of
the current government’s decision to increase the Translation Bureau’s budget in 2017. 3
If the 1960s and 70s was the golden age of official languages interpretation, one might be tempted to
describe the state of interpretation today as the dark age.
A complex mix of issues has combined to diminish the quality of interpretation in the federal government,
tarnishing the lofty ambitions of the Official Languages Act.
Canada faces a critical shortage of qualified interpreters 4, a dearth so pronounced it could interrupt the
proceedings of Parliament at any moment. This is fueling growth of a double standard of quality of
interpretation that exists among federal institutions with some using qualified interpreters, while many
others do not. Training programs and educational institutions needed to renew the profession are
woefully inadequate. New technology has been introduced to permit virtual meetings of Parliament that
delivers audio that is often too unintelligible to be interpreted, thereby compromising the ability of the
highest institutions of our democracy to function equally well in both official languages, while placing the
few qualified interpreters available at risk of injury.
Proponents of its introduction in Parliament successfully made the argument that simultaneous
interpretation would strengthen parliamentary democracy. The flipside of that argument is equally true
today: diminishing the service will weaken our parliamentary democracy.
This reality is the starting point for our comments on renewing the Official Languages Act.
How did we get here?
The Act sets out the Government of Canada’s commitment to foster the full recognition and use of both
English and French in Canadian society and establishes the obligation of every federal institution to take
positive measures to implement this commitment. It gives the Minister of Canadian Heritage special
responsibility to ensure the federal government delivers on this commitment.
1
Interpretation service was started in the Senate in 1961.
2
Fifty Years of Parliamentary Interpretation, Jean Delisle, CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/SUMMER 2009
3
Page 29, Study of the Translation Bureau, Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official
Languages, June 2016, and, Standing Committee on Official Languages Evidence, February 16, 2021.
4
Dating back to the time simultaneous interpretation was introduced in Parliament, and in keeping with the
practices of the profession the world over, freelance and staff interpreters are required to pass a competitive
government accreditation exam in order to qualify for employment with the Translation Bureau.
3The consultation document looks back to 1988, when the Parliament of Canada adopted important
changes to the Act in order to reflect the language provisions of the Canadian Charter. These
amendments reaffirmed the Canadian Charter’s guarantees of parliamentary, legislative and judicial
bilingualism, as well as guarantees for services to and communications with the public.
And yet, a few years later in 1995, the government of the day transformed the Translation Bureau to
become a Special Operating Agency. With this change, the Translation Bureau, which had been the sole
supplier of high-quality linguistic services throughout the federal government, became “optional”.
Government departments and agencies now had carte blanche to source linguistic services from any
supplier, even those who would be considered unqualified by Translation Bureau standards. 5
This set in motion a race to the bottom with the Translation Bureau now competing with low price rivals.
Quality of translation and interpretation services suffered as a result. The Translation Bureau resorted to
hiring freelance interpreters based solely on lowest price. When Public Services and Procurement Canada
attempted in 2016 to embed this quality wrecking provision in freelance interpreter contracts, our
Association raised a red flag. Fortunately, then Minister Judy Foote listened and ordered her officials
back to the drawing board in order to preserve quality service.
In 2005, an amendment to the Act established that federal institutions must take “positive measures” to
implement the Act’s commitments.
This well-intentioned gesture may have produced positive results in some areas, but official language
interpretation was unlikely to have been one of them.
Why? Because in 2005 top quality interpretation services supplied by the experts at the Translation
Bureau continued to be “optional” rather than mandatory for federal institutions. The quality gap
widened as more departments and agencies opted to hire unqualified suppliers. Quality continues to be
undermined in this way to this day.
The Official Languages Committee of the House of Commons conducted an in-depth study of the
Translation Bureau in 2016 when alarm bells went off in the House of Commons after the Bureau
announced Portage, a machine translation service akin to Google Translate.
The Committee heard evidence that during the five-year period between 2011 and 2015, the Translation
Bureau lost 25% of its federal government “clients”. 6
While there are no recent data publicly available, we have anecdotal evidence that the Translation
Bureau continues to not only lose its clients, but it is actively refusing to accept clients’ interpretation
requests from federal institutions because of the shortage of federally-accredited interpreters.
The double standard of quality is in all probability growing, and quickly.
5
in 1993, the Campbell government shifted ministerial responsibility for the Translation Bureau from the Secretary
of State to Public Works (now Public Services and Procurement Canada).
6
Study of the Translation Bureau, Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages, June
2016.
4Not only do federal institutions hire interpreters the Translation Bureau considers unqualified, they also
are known to set “lowest price” as the sole determinant for awarding contracts. This is a practice that is
widely recognized to reduce quality because, as they say, you get what you pay for.
To document this practice, we have appended a number of Requests for Service (Appendices numbered 1
to 7) received in the past month. They are from the following federal institutions:
National Defence
Environment Canada
Heritage Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Shared Services Canada
Statistics Canada
Apart from Environment Canada, the request for services from these other institutions of the federal
government do not require federal accreditation.
Heritage Canada is a special case. Despite its responsibilities as an Official Languages coordinating
department, Heritage Canada hires unqualified freelancers on the basis of lowest bid, a recipe to lower
quality that a department of its stature when it comes to official languages should never follow. The
other federal institutions may hire on the basis of lowest bid too.
Another cause for concern is the PSPC Request for Service which seeks to hire interpreters willing to work
from home on the Zoom platform. This completely disregards measures the Translation Bureau has put in
place to support quality service and protect interpreters from injury. That PSPC, the department in
charge of the Translation Bureau, regards quality service and safety of interpreters as a non-priority sends
an ominous signal about the future of quality interpretation services in the federal government.
This downward spiral has been made worse by the acute shortage of federally-accredited interpreters, an
issue discussed in greater detail below.
Looking forward
We wholeheartedly agree with the consultation conclusion that the Act needs an overhaul to address
shortcomings related to the Government of Canada’s internal operations with respect to language of
work, service and communication, as well as the overall coordination of these activities, the way federal
institutions report on their implementation (what is called accountability) and how these deficiencies
compromise the achievement of the Act’s objectives with respect to supporting the progression towards
the equality of status of English and French in Canadian society…
INTERNAL OPERATIONS
One of the shortcomings cited in the consultation report relates to language of communications and
service, notably when circumstances require urgent measures, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presumably this observation follows the criticism by the Official Languages Commissioner that public
spokespersons have sometimes been unable to express key messages related to the pandemic in both
official languages, and that this shortcoming could increase the risk of infection for some Canadians.
5If emergency communications with the public have been compromised during the pandemic, so too has
the commitment to conduct our national affairs, including the proceedings of Parliament, in both official
languages delivered with equal quality.
Distance Interpreting
At issue is the technology that enables Parliament and its committees to meet virtually, a convenience for
parliamentarians that has actually increased demand for interpretation services.7
Unfortunately, the pivot to meeting over ZOOM has deteriorated the quality of audio delivered to
meeting participants and interpreters. Online platforms like ZOOM compress and deteriorate sound.
Once the platform transforms the audio in this way, there is no way to restore it. This frequently makes
ZOOM sound unintelligible to the point that interpreters often cannot convey a speaker’s words and
meaning in the other official language. Sometimes, interpreters will interrupt service when this happens.
Often, they do not. A survey just made public by the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, the
union which represents staff interpreters who work for the Translation Bureau, found that most (80%)
interpreters interrupt service only some of the time, and almost half (43%) resume service even though
the audio problem causing them to interrupt was not fixed.
To quantify the impact of the ZOOM platform on parliamentary debate a study was conducted by AIIC-
Canada that reviewed hundreds of transcripts from House of Commons and its committees from the
Spring to the end of 2020 found that proceedings were interrupted more than 1000 times, frequently
because of issues with interpretation.
This is clear evidence of the compromises that have had a negative impact on bilingual discourse in
Parliament.
MPs have raised concern that Parliamentary debate in French is being stifled by virtual parliament, and
this is unlikely to change with the control of the pandemic. Remote meetings of Parliamentarians and
witnesses will no doubt become commonplace, given the investment that has been made to put in place
the needed infrastructure, climate change and the need to reduce air travel and a host of other reasons.
That means distance interpreting with all of its problems is here to stay.
In this respect, it is important to note that another compromise to quality is under consideration by
officials who may not have the best interests of official languages at the top of their priority lists.
Planners of the Centre Block renovation are actively considering building an off-site facility for
interpreters to assemble in order to remotely interpret the proceedings of the chamber and committees.
This would make permanent distance interpreting on the Hill, despite the reality that on-site (i.e., in the
same room) is by far and away the circumstance which allows interpreters to do their best work.
7
Public Services and Procurement Canada has published several metrics documenting the skyrocketing demand
from the House of Commons for official language interpretation services in a document appended to a letter from
Minister Anand to the House of Commons Official Languages Committee on March 29, 2021
https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/LANG/related-document/11214987
6We recommend:
1. That Parliament and the Translation Bureau acknowledge that in-person meetings where all
participants are on site, including the interpreters, is the best way to ensure high quality interpreting.
2. That the best practice of on-site interpretation be preserved in plans for the Centre Block renovation.
The shortage of qualified interpreters
As of February 10, 2021, the Translation Bureau reports there are only 53 permanent staff official
language interpreters and only 76 federally-accredited official language freelance interpreters in all of
Canada who hold the gold standard of quality recognized the world over and who are qualified to work in
Parliament8. Of course, not all freelancers who are qualified work for the Translation Bureau every day.
On average during the fall 2020, Parliament required 50 interpreters daily to ensure the proceedings of
the House of Commons, the Senate and their committees are offered to Canadians in the language of
their choice delivered with equal quality. This can increase to over 70 interpreters required on the
busiest days.
In addition to supplying interpreters to meet the needs of Parliament, the Translation Bureau has many
other “clients” among federal departments and agencies, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada, the
CRTC and other federal institutions. But because Parliament is its priority the Translation Bureau is
increasingly turning away many clients among government institutions because almost all of its
interpretation resources are invested in Parliament.
Your committee should be aware that the Translation Bureau increasingly does not have the capacity to
supply interpreters to cover conferences hosted by federal institutions which are often “internal” events
attended by public service employees. This harsh reality represents an obstacle to growing the use of
both official languages in the public service. It must be taken into account when scoping ways and means
of strengthening the Translation Bureau.
Canada’s training institutions are sorely lacking to renew the profession. Only two – University of Ottawa
and Glendon College (York University) -- offer masters’ programs and only a handful of students with the
English-French language combination graduate every year.
The government needs to get serious about ensuring Canada has the interpreters needed to keep the
federal government functionally bilingual. We recommend:
3. That the Minister of PSPC address the critical shortage of qualified interpreters in Canada on an urgent
basis by convening a special task force of leading academics, practitioners, and others to devise
immediate temporary professional improvement programs to address the qualified interpreter
shortage as well as to renew the profession by investing in university training programs and by protecting
8
Public Services and Procurement Canada document appended to a letter from Minister Anand to the House of
Commons Official Languages Committee on March 29, 2021 https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-
2/LANG/related-document/11214987
7the health and safety of the very small existing pool of Government accredited interpreters who should
be encouraged to work for the Parliament of Canada.
4. That the Government of Canada increase the budget of the Translation Bureau to grow its
complement of staff interpreters by 15% from current levels during the next five years. The prospect of
more career opportunities with good full-time jobs will help to renew the profession.
Double standard of quality
When it comes to official languages interpretation, the Translation Bureau has high standards few private
market suppliers can or do meet. The Translation Bureau only hires qualified professional interpreters
who hold a federal accreditation after passing a stringent exam. The same credential is required of
freelancers the Bureau contracts. Canada’s federal accreditation is recognized the world over as a gold
standard for quality. It is the bedrock of quality assurance for the interpretation services the Translation
Bureau delivers.
Because of the shortage the Translation Bureau is unable to meet the needs of many federal
departments, agencies and institutions, none of which are obliged to source interpretation services from
the Translation Bureau. They are free to hire whomever they please including those the Bureau considers
unqualified.
Hiring unqualified interpreters is a practice that is common in the federal government. So too is the
practice of hiring unqualified freelance interpreters solely on the basis of lowest bid, a failed practice that
lowers quality and was rejected for the Translation Bureau by the former PSPC Minister Judy Foote in
February 2017.
The Translation Bureau’s only mandated responsibility is to serve Parliament. Given current trends, it is
reasonable to wonder how long it will be before the Supreme Court of Canada turns to unqualified
interpreters because the Translation Bureau can no longer meet the SCC’s needs.
The gold standard of federal accreditation is a guarantor of quality interpretation. Accordingly, we
recommend:
5. That all federal departments and agencies contract the services of accredited interpreters only.
6. Alternatively, transition the Translation Bureau over time to its former role as the exclusive supplier of
linguistic services throughout the federal government.
STRENGTHENING COORDINATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
The consultation report also notes that coordination of the implementation of the Act within the
machinery of government has been the subject of recurring criticism from community stakeholders, as
has the limited effectiveness of the means available to ensure compliance with the Act’s legislative
provisions.
We welcome the proposal in the consultation report to strengthen a central agency to ensure internal
accountability and coordination.
8According to a former CEO of the Translation Bureau, the rationale for moving the Translation Bureau
from the Secretary of State to Public Works in 1993 was the Bureau “does extensive procurement with
the private sector and should be housed with the rest of the government’s procurement activities.” 9
If the main business of the Translation Bureau is to procure services and products, this rationale makes
sense. However, we submit that the main business of the Translation Bureau is to enable Canada’s
bilingual character and Official Languages policy. Accordingly, we recommend:
7. Transfer the Translation Bureau from the authority of Public Services and Procurement and place it
under the authority of Heritage Canada or some other authority whose mandate is to ensure that the
Official Languages Act is properly implemented. (This is a recommendation made by the House of
Commons Official Languages Committee in its June 2016 report on the Translation Bureau).
Too often, governments faced with shortages and limited budgets choose to reduce services, lower
standards, or change programs to offer less. Of course, this option is open to the current government
when it comes to official languages. For example, it could choose to water down the requirements for
federal accreditation of interpreters or do away with it entirely. It could choose to restrict the work of
the Translation Bureau to Parliament only, leaving all other federal institutions to offer their
communications to Canadians and public servants in less than high quality or unequal quality in English
and in French.
This approach would diminish our bilingual character as a nation.
We are hopeful, based on the consultation document ENGLISH AND FRENCH: TOWARDS A SUBSTANTIVE
EQUALITY OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES IN CANADA, that the Government of Canada has chosen a different
path.
Recommendations
In summary, we recommend:
1. That Parliament and the Translation Bureau acknowledge that in-person meetings where all
participants are on site, including the interpreters, is the best way to ensure high quality interpreting.
2. That the best practice of on-site interpretation be preserved in plans for the Centre Block renovation.
3. That the Minister of PSPC address the critical shortage of qualified interpreters in Canada on an urgent
basis by convening a special task force of leading academics, practitioners, and others to devise
immediate temporary professional improvement programs to address the qualified interpreter
shortage as well as to renew the profession by investing in university training programs and by protecting
the health and safety of the very small existing pool of Government accredited interpreters who should
be encouraged to work for the Parliament of Canada.
9
Study of the Translation Bureau, Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages, June
2016.
94. That the Government of Canada increase the budget of the Translation Bureau to grow its
complement of staff interpreters by 15% from current levels during the next five years. The prospect of
more career opportunities with good full-time jobs will help to renew the profession.
5. That all federal departments and agencies contract the services of accredited interpreters only.
6. Alternatively, transition the Translation Bureau over time to its former role as the exclusive supplier of
linguistic services throughout the federal government.
7. Transfer the Translation Bureau from the authority of Public Services and Procurement and place it
under the authority of Heritage Canada or some other authority whose mandate is to ensure that the
Official Languages Act is properly implemented. (This is a recommendation made by the House of
Commons Official Languages Committee in its June 2016 report on the Translation Bureau).
For more information:
Nicole Gagnon
Advocacy Lead
AIIC-Canada
nicole_gagnon@sympatico.ca
613 619-4062
10APPENDIX 1 – Request for interpretation services
National Defence
From: AUDREY.PORTELA@forces.gc.ca
Sent: May 17, 2021 11:19 AM
To: nicole_gagnon@sympatico.ca
Cc: HUGO.DUMAS@forces.gc.ca
Subject: Interprétation - Événement 26 mai - Défense nationale
Importance: High
Good day,
We would like to know if you would have simultaneous interpreters (English to French and
French to English) for a town hall hosted by the Deputy Minister of National Defence and the
Acting Chief of the Defence Staff on 26 May from 1430 to 1600.
The main principles will be in our studio at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa (101
Colonel by Drive) and they will answer questions from the audience received via the Slido.com
app. The answer from the two principles would be streamed over MS Teams for participants to
listen. We would offer the participants the opportunity to connect to an English feed, a French
feed or the floor feed.
We are finalizing the contract with AV service provider. The interpretation services would either
be done on site (with the rental and installation of the proper equipment) or from the AV
service provider’s studio. In both cases, COVID-19 protocols will be followed.
Let me know if you have any availabilities and how much it would cost.
Thank you,
Audrey Portela
Gestionnaire multimédia p.i., DG Marketing et Comm-E, SMA(AP)
Ministère de la défense nationale / Gouvernement du Canada
audrey.portela@forces.gc.ca / C. 613-762-6335
A/Multimedia Manager, DG Marketing & E-Comms, ADM(PA)
Department of National Defence / Government of Canada
audrey.portela@forces.gc.ca / C. 613-762-6335
11APPENDIX 2 – Request for interpretation services
Environment Canada
From: Labelle, Julie (EC)
Sent: May 20, 2021 9:41 AM
Cc: Lachance2, Chantal (EC) ; Lacroix, Vanessa (EC)
Subject: Interpreter Services June 17, 2021
Bonjour,
We are holding a Departmental Awards Ceremony on Thursday June 17, 2021 from 1:30 to
3:00. We are in need of 2 Interpreters for our event for English and French interpretation. The
event is being held at 111 Sussex in Ottawa possibility of in lieu or Zoom conference.
Thank you in advance for getting back to us at your earliest convenience.
Julie Labelle
Gestionnaire, programme de reconnaissance des employés, Services de développement des employés et de mieux-
être
Direction générale des ressources humaines | Environnement et Changement climatique Canada
Manager, Employee Recognition Program, Workforce Development & Wellness Services
Human Resources Branch | Environment and Climate Change Canada
julie.labelle@canada.ca / MS Teams
12APPENDIX 3 – Request for interpretation services
Heritage Canada
From: Lebrun, Darquise (PCH)
Sent: April 28, 2021 12:36 PM
To: Lebrun, Darquise (PCH)
Subject: Demande de prix / Request for quotation
L’anglais suit le français
Bonjour,
Merci d’avoir confirmé votre disponibilité pour les dates indiquées dans la demande de disponibilité ci-
dessous. SVP me faire parvenir vos prix d’ici 10 h 00 HAE le jeudi 29 avril 2021pour les services décrits
dans la demande de disponibilité ainsi que les renseignement additionnels suivants :
• Deux (2) interprètes sont requis pour chaque date
• Les deux interprètes devront se présenter une demi-heure avant et demeurer disponibles pour
une demi-heure à la fin de la rencontre en cas qu’elle soit plus longue que prévue.
• Les interprètes seront dans des cabines séparées pour assurer la distanciation
• L'interprétation sera diffusé via Zoom aux participants inscrits et n'est pas enregistré. Seul le
"floor sound" est enregistré
Il est à noter que les conditions générales du manuel des clauses et conditions uniformisées d’achat pour
les services professionnels de moyenne complexité s’appliqueront au contrat subséquent. Ces clauses
se retrouvent au : Section 3.2010B - Conditions générales - services professionnels (complexité
moyenne) - Achatsetventes.gc.ca
Un contrat sera octroyé au soumissionnaire ayant confirmé sa disponibilité et ayant soumis le prix le plus
bas.
13Veuillez svp soumettre vos prix conformément au tableau ci-dessous.
Dates et lieu Noms des interprètes Taux Nombre Sous-total
horaire d’heures
6 mai 2021 1)
Combattre la 2)
désinformation et les
stéréotypes nuisibles
140 Promenade du
Portage, Phase IV,
Salle Pontiac,
Gatineau, QC
18 mai 2021 1)
Bâtir des alliances et 2)
des communautés plus
sûres
140 Promenade du
Portage, Phase IV,
Salle Pontiac,
Gatineau, QC
Total *
(taxes applicables en sus)
* Le total sera le montant considéré afin de déterminer le soumissionnaire ayant le plus bas prix.
***
Hello,
Thank you for confirming your availability for the dates indicated in the Request for Availability
below. Please provide me with your prices before 10:00 AM EDT on Thursday April 29th, 2021for the
services described in the Request for Availability and the additional information listed below:
• Two (2) interpreters are required for each date
• Both interpreters must arrive 30 minutes prior to the meeting and remain available for 30 minutes
after the meeting in the event the meetings last longer than planned
• Both interpreters will be in separate sound booths in order to ensure social distancing
• The interpretation will be broadcast via Zoom to registered participants and is not recorded. Only
the floor sound is recorded.
Please note that the general conditions of the Standard Acquisition Clauses and Conditions manual pour
medium complexity professional services will apply to the resulting contract. These clauses are available
at: Section 3.2010B - General Conditions - Professional Services (Medium Complexity) -
Buyandsell.gc.ca
A contract will be awarded to the Bidder having confirmed their availability for both dates and having bid
the lowest cost.
Please submit your pricing in accordance with the following table:
14Dates and location Names of Interpreters Hourly Rate Number of Sub-total
Hours
May 6th, 2021 1)
Combatting 2)
Misinformation &
Harmful Stereotypes
140 Promenade du
Portage, Phase IV,
Pontiac room,
Gatineau, QC
May 18th, 2021 1)
Building Allyship & 2)
Safer Communities
140 Promenade du
Portage, Phase IV,
Pontiac room,
Gatineau, QC
Total *
(applicable taxes extra)
* This total will determine the Bidder offering the lowest cost.
Merci d’avance,
Darquise LeBrun
Conseillère principale, Approvisionnements ministériels et gestion du matériel
Direction générale de la gestion financière
Ministère du Patrimoine canadien / Gouvernement du Canada
darquise.lebrun@canada.ca / Tél: 819-635-3521
Senior Advisor, Corporate Procurement and Materiel Management
Financial Management Branch
Department of Canadian Heritage / Government of Canada
darquise.lebrun@canada.ca / Tel: 819-635-3521
***
From: Lebrun, Darquise (PCH)
Sent: April 27, 2021, 11:06 AM
To: Lebrun, Darquise (PCH)
Subject: Demande de disponibilité / Request for Availability
L’anglais suit le français
À qui de droit,
Le ministère du Patrimoine canadien est à la recherche de service d’interprétation simultanée sur place le
jeudi 6 mai 2021. Il est également possible que ce même service sera requis quelques autres dates en
mai. Une brève description se trouve ci-dessous. Les réunions sont virtuelles et seuls les interprètes et
15techniciens seront sur place physiquement. Nous vous demandons de nous confirmer si vous avez des
ressources disponibles pour offrir ce service d’ici le mercredi 28 avril 2021 à 12 h 00 (midi) HAE.
Besoin immédiat :
Date : jeudi 6 mai 2021
Heure : 19 h 00 à 20 h 30 HAE
Endroit : Salle Pontiac, Place du portage, Phase IV, 140 Promenade du Portage Gatineau, QC
Sujet : Combattre la désinformation et les stéréotypes nuisibles
Sécurité : aucune côte requise
Autres infos : Traduction simultanée anglais/français (70% anglais/30% français)
Autres besoins à être confirmer à une date ultérieure :
Date : mardi 18 mai 2021 (devrait être confirmée d’ici la fin de cette semaine)
Heure : 19 h 00 à 20 h 30 HAE
Endroit : Salle Pontiac, Place du portage, Phase IV, 140 Promenade du Portage Gatineau, QC
Sujet : Bâtir des alliances et des communautés plus sûres
Sécurité : aucune côte requise
Autres infos : Traduction simultanée anglais/français (70% anglais/30% français) – à confirmer
Date : mercredi 26 mai 2021
Heure : à confirmer
Endroit : à confirmer
Sujet : à confirmer
Sécurité : à confirmer
Autres infos : à confirmer
Si plus d’un fournisseur de service confirme qu’ils sont disponibles pour ces dates, une demande de prix
sera lancée à tous les fournisseurs disponibles afin de déterminer le fournisseur à qui un contrat sera
octroyé. Si vous avez des questions, n’hésitez pas de communiquer avec moi par courriel.
Merci,
Darquise LeBrun
Conseillère principale, Approvisionnements ministériels et gestion du matériel
Direction générale de la gestion financière
Ministère du Patrimoine canadien / Gouvernement du Canada
darquise.lebrun@canada.ca
To whom it may concern,
The Department of Canadian Heritage is looking for on-site simultaneous interpretation services on
Thursday May 6th, 2021. There is a possibility that these services will be required for a few other dates in
May as well. A brief description of our requirements can be found below. These meetings are virtual and
only interpreters and technicians shall be working on site physically. Please confirm whether or not you
have resources available to provide this service before 12 : 00 PM (Noon) EDT on Wednesday April 28th,
2021.
16Immediate requirement:
Date: Thursday May 6, 2021
Time: 7:00 PM EDT to 8:30 PM EDT
Location: Pontiac Room, Place du portage, Phase IV, 140 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, QC
Subject : Combatting Misinformation & Harmful Stereotypes
Security : no security requirement
Other info: Simultaneous translation English/French (70% anglais/30% français)
Other requirements to be confirmed at a later date:
Date: Tuesday May 18, 2021 (should be confirmed by the end of this week)
Time: 7:00 PM EDT to 8:30 PM EDT
Location: Pontiac Room, Place du portage, Phase IV, 140 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, QC
Subject : Building Allyship & Safer Communities
Security : no security requirement
Other info: Simultaneous translation English/French (70% anglais/30% français) – to be confirmed.
Date: Wednesday May 26, 2021
Time: to be confirmed
Location: to be confirmed
Subject : to be confirmed
Security : to be confirmed
Other info: to be confirmed
Should more than one supplier confirm they are available for the above referenced dates, a Request for
Quotations will be sent to all available suppliers in order to determine to which a contract will be
awarded. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email.
Thank you,
Darquise LeBrun
Senior Advisor, Corporate Procurement and Materiel Management
Financial Management Branch
Department of Canadian Heritage / Government of Canada
darquise.lebrun@canada.ca
17APPENDIX 4 – Request for interpretation services
Public Health Agency of Canada
From: Lefebvre, Sara (PHAC/ASPC)
Sent: May 13, 2021 3:22 PM
To: nicole_gagnon@sympatico.ca
Subject: PHAC Webinar - June 2 from 12:00pm-1:30pm EST
Hi Nicole,
I hope this finds you well.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is organizing a public webinar on June 2, 2021 from 12:00pm-
1:30pm EST. ELC Ottawa is providing the AV services for the sound booth, so the French interpreters
would need to go to their office at 340 Maclaren for the webinar.
The bilingual title is: PHAC Webinar - Adapting Effective Violence Prevention Programs / Webinaire de
l'ASPC - Adapter des programmes efficaces de prévention de la violence
The Zoom webinar will be recorded and the recording will be sent to all those who have registered. The
translation will be 100% from English to French (the presenters will only speak English). We can provide
the bilingual meeting materials, agendas, presentations and relevant documents by mid-next week.
Our sincere apologies for the delay in request. I know you are likely incredibly busy but we would greatly
appreciate if you could accommodate this request.
Could you please let me know if you would be available for this webinar?
Thank you,
Sara
Sara Lefebvre (she/her/elle)
Policy Analyst | Analyste des politiques
Family and Gender-Based Violence Prevention | Prévention de la violence familiale et de la violence
fondée sur le sexe
Mental Health and Wellbeing Division | Division de la santé mentale et du bien-être
Centre for Health Promotion | Centre pour la promotion de la santé
Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada
785 Carling, Ottawa
sara.lefebvre@canada.ca | 343-542-5155
I pay respect to the Algonquin Anishnaabe people, on whose traditional and unceded territory I live and work.
Je rends hommage au peuple algonquin Anishnaabe, sur le territoire traditionnel et non cédé duquel je vis et
travaille.
18APPENDIX 5 – Request for services
Public Services and Procurement Canada
From: Lisa Elaschuk
Sent: May 26, 2021 4:08 PM
To: nicole_gagnon@sympatico.ca
Subject: Request for simultaneous interpretation services (June 22 event)
Attention: Nicole Gagnon
I found your name on the ATIO directory (https://atio.on.ca/directory/)
I’m coordinating a Zoom Webinar and am looking for two interpreters (English to French and
French to English) who are able to do simultaneous interpretation remotely via Zoom.
Date: June 22, 2021 from 10am-12pm EST
Topic: Employee town hall meeting with a focus on mental health. Audience is internal PSPC
staff.
Please provide your answers to the following questions in the column and kindly reply via e-
mail by 12pm EST on Monday May 31, 2021 to indicate your interest and availability for this
event.
Question Reply
Specialty:
A) English to French
B) French to English
C) Both E-F or F-E
Are you available June 22, 2021 from 10am-12pm
EST?
Can you work remotely via Zoom webinar (AV booth
not available)?
Your fees for interpretation
Are you on the standing offer list for simultaneous
translation services with Public Services and
Procurement Canada?
Do you accept payment by credit card?
19I can provide electronic copies of materials in advance e.g., Agenda, PowerPoints, speeches,
land acknowledgement. There will also be a Q & A period which is of course, unscripted.
Please contact me if you have any questions in the meantime.
Regards,
Lisa Elaschuk
Program Manager, Leadership for Coaches Program
Leadership and Culture Change Directorate
Change, Leadership and Administrative Services (CLAS)
HR-to-Pay Program Office (HRPPO)
Public Services and Procurement Canada
lisa.elaschuk@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca /416-605-0271
Want to know everything about LCCD? Join us on GCcollab
Gestionnaire de programme à l’intention des coaches (PLC)
Direction du leadership et changement de culture
Changement, leadership et services administratifs (CLSA)
Bureau du programme des RH à la paye (BPRHP)
Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada
lisa.elaschuk@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca /416-605-0271
Vous voulez tout savoir sur DLCC? Joignez-vous à nous sur GCcollab
20APPENDIX 6 – Request for interpretation services
Shared Services Canada
From: Thomas, Ellen (SSC/SPC)
Sent: May 17, 2021 11:24 AM
To: nicole_gagnon@sympatico.ca
Subject: Shared Services Canada - Request for Simultaneous Interpretation Services - June 2,
2021 - REPLY asap please
Hello Nicole,
I’m reaching out to you as we are seeking Simultaneous Interpretation services for an
upcoming event, June 2.
I am working along side the Project Manager, (Sandy Potts) at Shared Services Canada, a
Government organization. We are in need of Simultaneous Interpretation for the National
AccessAbility Week (NAAW), June 2nd.
We are hosting a virtual event and require a translator French/English who can provide
Simultaneous Interpretation. The event is from 11:00 AM to 3:00 pm (4 hours) and will consist
of 3 presentations and Q&As as well as a Panel Discussion with Q&A.
Could you kindly let me know as soon as possible if you are interested and available.
Thank you so much,
Ellen Thomas
Business Analyst / Senior Project Officer
Accessibility Directorate, Chief Information Office
Shared Services Canada, Government of Canada
ellen.thomas@canada.ca T: 343-571-8264
Analyste d'affaires / Agente de projet principale
Direction du accessibilité, Bureau du dirigeant principal de l'information
Services partagés Canada, Gouvernement du Canada
ellen.thomas@canada.ca / T: 343-571-8264
21APPENDIX 7 – Request for interpretation services
Statistics Canada
From: Zhao2, Linlu (STATCAN)
Sent: May 19, 2021 2:43 PM
To: nicole_gagnon@sympatico.ca
Subject: Statistics Canada request - Availability for English-to-French live interpretation for a
videoconference meeting
Dear Nicole,
I found your contact information from the ATIO directory. We are looking to contract the
services of an English-to-French interpreter for a videoconference meeting hosted by Statistics
Canada on June 10, 2021 from 1:00-2:30PM EDT (meeting opens at 12:00PM to allow for
preparations).
About the meeting:
• The meeting will be a forum for federal/provincial/territorial members to present and
discuss issues related to population health data (e.g., data collection and analysis, public
health, data policy, data sharing).
• The meeting is anticipated to be conducted primarily in English.
• A/V equipment for live interpretation will be provided at a studio in Ottawa, Ontario.
• The English audio of the meeting will be recorded to allow for the preparation of
meeting minutes.
Would you be available for the aforementioned meeting date/time?
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Linlu
Linlu Zhao
Analyst / Analyste
Center for Population Health Data / Centre de données sur la santé de la population
Statistics Canada / Statistique Canada
343-573-7944
linlu.zhao2@canada.ca
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