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Standing Committee on Board of Internal Economy: March 12, 2026

Interpretation Services

Date: March 12, 2026, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

Location: In person

Present: The Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement

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General Items

1. Opening statement

The Honourable Joël Lightbound
Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement

Board of Internal Economy (BOIE)
March 12, 2026
11:30 AM
Ottawa, ON

608 words

Mr. Chair, Members of the Board,

Thank you for inviting me to appear before you today. I welcome this opportunity to provide an update on the interpretation services provided in support of parliamentary activity.

Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered today on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank our interpreters here with us today, [the bureau will provide names].

Mr. Chair, interpretation is essential to the proper functioning of Parliament and to ensuring parliamentarians can fully exercise their rights in both official languages.

Ensuring the continued delivery, quality and reliability of these services is a responsibility that the Government of Canada, through Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Translation Bureau, takes very seriously.

The demand for interpretation services is growing in Canada, both in Parliament and in all public institutions. At the same time, remote simultaneous interpretation is quickly becoming an important service delivery method on the market, both here and internationally.

To this end, it is crucial that we work closely with the House of Commons Administration, the Senate Administration and parliamentarians. To adapt interpretation services to this changing reality, we must collectively recognize the operational, technical and human realities that define this industry.

In recent years, the Translation Bureau has implemented a number of measures in response to this context, including:

Regarding the last item, in October, the department issued a new request for standing offers for interpretation services in official languages for Parliament and other large-scale events. This is a new and more efficient approach. We expect that it will streamline processes and ensure more timely responses for all stakeholders.

One of the main benefits of this approach is the ability to bring in new suppliers over time, with planned renewal periods. This option was not available under the previous task-based contract model.

The Translation Bureau now has a pool of 41 freelance interpreters as a result of the new standing offers. As in the past, it can also use other contracting methods to call on additional accredited freelance interpreters to meet the needs of Parliament.

Our goal is to meet the growing demand for quality interpretation across Canada without interrupting or compromising services.

I would also like to reiterate that Parliament remains the top priority. The Translation Bureau continues to work closely with the House of Commons Administration to manage technical aspects and interpretation needs in a rigorous and realistic manner to meet parliamentary requirements.

Lastly, interpreter accreditation remains the main guarantee of quality. Yes, there have been adjustments to the accreditation process, but the exam continues to be administered according to the same high standards that have long ensured its credibility.

The only change is the addition of an external and independent review, from the highly respected community of conference interpreters, to increase transparency and support continuous improvement.

But let me be very clear: the Translation Bureau still has the final say on the success or failure of a candidate on the exam. The expected level of proficiency remains unchanged.

Mr. Chair, my colleagues and I are here today to present the situation clearly, explain the rationale behind the recent changes and answer your questions. We remain fully committed to working with the House of Commons, the Senate and parliamentarians to adapt interpretation services to current and future realities.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would be pleased to answer any questions from the Board.

Relevant documents

2. Overview of parliamentary interpretation services

Issue

The Translation Bureau provides interpretation services to Parliament to ensure the smooth operation of the House of Commons, the Senate and their respective committees.

Key facts

Key messages

Background

Under the Translation Bureau Act, the Translation Bureau's mission is to serve all departments, boards, agencies and commissions established by Act of Parliament or appointed by order of the Governor in Council and serve both Houses of Parliament in all matters relating to the making and revising of translations from one language into another of documents, including correspondence, reports, debates, bills and acts, and to interpretation, sign-language interpretation and terminology.

In accordance with the Translation Bureau Regulations, the Translation Bureau must give priority to the translation of parliamentary documents and the interpretation of sittings of both Houses of Parliament and their committees.

The Translation Bureau is the exclusive supplier to the House of Commons and the Senate, under 5-year partnership agreements. Departments may retain the services of private sector suppliers to meet their translation and interpretation needs.

The partnership agreement between the Translation Bureau and the House of Commons Administration was in effect from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2025. It has been extended until April 30, 2026, and is expected to be renewed for a period of 5 years by that date.

The agreement stipulates that the Translation Bureau must meet Parliament's interpretation needs in the following order of priority:

The agreement covers interpretation in official languages as well as in other languages for which the Translation Bureau has accredited interpreters (employees and/or suppliers). In the case of Indigenous languages, it stipulates that the Translation Bureau will endeavour to find adequate resources, but may not be able to do so on occasion.

Under the terms of the partnership agreement, the House of Commons Administration is responsible for providing the necessary technical support for interpretation, including any necessary equipment and an on-site audio-visual technician.

The agreement sets out obligations for the Translation Bureau to guarantee the quality of interpretation, namely using accredited professional interpreters exclusively, adhering to recognized professional standards, and implementing quality assurance measures at each step of the work process.

Unlike the services provided to departments, which are provided on a cost-recovery basis, the services that the Translation Bureau provides to Parliament have been funded since 2008 to 2009 through an annual special purpose allotment covering translation, interpretation and closed captioning. For 2025 to 2026, this budget amounted to nearly $49 million.

These additional budget funds continue to be allocated exclusively to operating expenses and are used to absorb costs related to:

It is important to remember that, with the exception of Parliament, federal organizations are free to do business with the private sector rather than with the Translation Bureau. The Public Accounts show an increase in the use of private sector interpretation: from 2020 to 2021 to 2024 to 2025, departmental spending in this regard increased from $7.6 million to $28.6 million. The Bureau cannot guarantee the quality of these services.

3. Interpretation capacity to support parliamentary activities

Issue

In order to meet Parliament's interpretation services needs, the Translation Bureau must rely on a large number of qualified interpreters (employees and suppliers) to deal with issues arising from high demand, a shortage of interpreters and technological developments.

Key facts

Key messages

If pressed on remote interpretation:

If pressed on using artificial intelligence assistance for interpretation:

Background

For many years, a shortage of conference interpreters in Canada and around the world has limited the Translation Bureau's interpretation capacity.

Occupational health and safety incidents during the transition to virtual events brought on by the pandemic also disrupted capacity. The working hours of employed interpreters remain reduced as a protective measure during virtual and hybrid meetings (4 hours, compared to 6 hours in person). Interpretation service suppliers may choose to work beyond these limits at their discretion.

Tripartite meetings are held regularly between Translation Bureau managers and the House of Commons and Senate administrations to discuss common issues, including interpretation capacity and the distribution of existing resources between the Senate, the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament based on their priorities. The Translation Bureau is very flexible in responding to last-minute requests and unexpected situations. It has a team of interpreters on standby, ready to quickly replace colleagues if necessary.

The Translation Bureau is continuing to work closely with the House Administration to provide remote interpretation services for up to 8 sessions per week.

The Translation Bureau is also taking a number of concrete steps to improve its capacity:

4. Procurement process for official language interpretation services and new request for standing offer

Issue

In 2025, in collaboration with the Procurement Branch, the Translation Bureau modified its procurement tool. The new standing offers came into effect in January 2026.

Key facts

Key messages

If pressed on reports from the Office of the Procurement Ombud:

If pressed on the impact of choosing the lowest bidder on the quality of interpretation:

If pressed on the impact of new standing offers on supplier health and safety:

Background

To replace contracts that expired on December 31, 2025, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) launched a request for information process at the end of June 2025, which closed on August 8, 2025. Nearly 50 suppliers submitted comments that were taken into account in the preparation of the new procurement tool: a request for standing offers.

The request for a standing offer was posted on October 24, 2025, with an initial closing date of November 24, 2025, for interpreters who already hold accreditation with the Translation Bureau. Thirty-four bidders were selected for a total of 36 available interpretation service resources. A second phase took place from December 24, 2025, to January 16, 2026, to allow candidates who had passed the last accreditation exam to submit their offers. Five new bidders were selected, bringing the total to 41 available interpretation service resources.

Between June and August 2025, the Office of the Procurement Ombud (OPO) received written complaints from 4 Canadian suppliers regarding the administration of their separate contracts awarded by PSPC for the “provision of parliamentary and conference interpretation services.” OPO addressed each complaint in a separate report. The 4 OPO reports focus primarily on the allocation of work, and one of them also addresses concerns related to travel time. Other issues were also raised, such as the use of the CanadaBuys (Ariba) platform and the department's integrity in administering the contract. Summaries of the 4 complaint review reports were published on the OPO website between January 12 and February 23, 2026. PSPC has committed to sharing the results of its review of the reports' findings with the OPO.

5. Accreditation process

Issue

The Translation Bureau has a rigorous accreditation process in place to ensure high-quality interpretation services to Parliament.

Key facts

Key messages

If pressed on the integrity and impartiality of the process:

If pressed on quality:

Background

For more than 30 years, the Translation Bureau has relied on its rigorous accreditation exam, which it administers itself, to ensure that only professionals who meet strict standards are placed at the service of Canada's parliamentarians.

The Translation Bureau is actively exploring ways to improve the process without compromising standards or quality, which is not negotiable. For its November 2025 exam, in addition to its usual jury, the Bureau invited 2 independent experts to provide an outside perspective on the assessments:

The Translation Bureau remains committed to ensuring impartiality in all of its operational processes, including the evaluation of interpreters, with a view to continuous improvement. Many world-renowned institutions are doing the same, and some have already called on interpreters employed by the Bureau as external experts. This was done to protect, not degrade, quality. The exam was no easier, and the November 2025 pass rate is comparable to previous exam rates: 10 candidates passed out of a total of 60.

In 2024, the Translation Bureau considered introducing “entry-level” accreditation to contract with private sector interpreters who have not passed the accreditation exam but have demonstrated sufficient skills for low-visibility, non-parliamentary conferences. The project did not go ahead, but the Bureau still wants to improve its accreditation program to better meet the needs of these conferences. In particular, the Bureau consulted with its international counterparts who developed different levels of certification according to the appropriate degree of specialization. A separate procurement tool will also be put in place for these conferences.

6. Working conditions of Interpretation Service Providers and Health and Safety

Issue

The Translation Bureau plays a crucial role in the exercise of Canadian democracy through the provision of interpretation services. In recent years, the worldwide shortage of conference interpreters and health and safety incidents related to sound quality have compromised its ability to provide interpretation services to Parliament.

Key facts

Key messages

Background

The Translation Bureau considers the health and safety of interpreters to be an essential element in maintaining interpretation capacity. For several years, the Translation Bureau has been continuously improving its health and safety prevention measures, particularly by implementing acoustic protection protocols and incident tracking tools. Sound-related risks, including feedback, persist in any environment with complex audio equipment, but precise protocols, technological measures and close collaboration with parliamentary partners have significantly reduced incidents since 2020.

The partnership agreement between the Translation Bureau and the House of Commons Administration sets out the technical conditions required to guarantee the health and safety of interpreters. It is the House of Commons Administration that is responsible for ensuring that these technical conditions are in place. The Translation Bureau is working with the House of Commons Administration to identify and remedy any potential issues.

Interpretation hours and rates

The average working time of Translation Bureau’s interpreters assigned to virtual and hybrid meetings is 4 hours. Interpretation service suppliers may choose to work beyond these limits at their discretion.

Supplier rates have increased by approximately 70% in recent years, despite the decrease in the number of hours of interpretation (from 6 hours to 4 hours per day), reflecting both the context of scarcity and the high demand for highly specialized resources (in 2024 to 2025, on average, suppliers worked 3.27 hours per day in interpretation).

Assigning work to suppliers

The Translation Bureau awards contracts to accredited interpretation service suppliers who meet the required criteria (accreditation, availability, place of residence, linguistic profile, quality index and security clearance), choosing the lowest bidder, in accordance with the rules in effect. The Translation Bureau closely monitors developments in the interpretation industry to ensure fair compensation, maintain service quality and maintain an overall financial balance.

7. Quality assurance and service standards

Issue

It is very important to the Translation Bureau that interpretation services provided to Parliament are of good quality and adhere to the highest service standards in order to guarantee the smooth operation of the country's highest democratic institution.

Key facts

Key messages

Background

The new procurement tool for interpretation services for Parliament sets out the Translation Bureau's expectations in terms of quality, performance management and implementation of corrective measures, if applicable. It strengthens performance management and prioritizes the best rate among accredited suppliers, while maintaining consistent quality.

The quality of interpretation is ensured not by the price charged by suppliers, but by a mandatory accreditation process and a performance management (quality) mechanism for suppliers. In order to work in Parliament, the Translation Bureau requires that interpretation services suppliers obtain accreditation from the Translation Bureau, which is a guarantee of quality. The Bureau also evaluates the quality of the work of its interpreters and suppliers based on feedback received.

In addition, one or more resource interpreters employed by the Bureau are responsible for each parliamentary committee to monitor the committee's work, ensure that other interpreters, employees and suppliers assigned to meetings have access to relevant glossaries, terminology, documents and information, and ensure consistent service quality.

Quality assurance and service standards are based on a base of qualified (accredited) resources, strengthened governance and operational tools (allocation, incident tracking and feedback). The health and safety requirements, the overall capacity (employees and suppliers) and the supervision of remote interpretation support the continuity, quality and reliability of services to Parliament, anchored in the continuous improvement and sound management of public funds.

Level of service to Parliament and departments

In a context of a shortage of conference interpreters and an increased demand for interpretation, accredited interpreters (employees and suppliers) cannot meet all the needs of the federal government. The Translation Bureau Regulations stipulate that the Translation Bureau must serve Parliament as a priority. Nevertheless, the Bureau spares no effort to serve departments to the best of its capacity.

8. Overview of interpretation in Canada

Issue

Interpretation plays an essential role in Canada, and Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Translation Bureau is the primary provider of interpretation services for the federal government. These services support Canada's linguistic duality and maintain high professional standards.

Key facts

Key messages

Background

The interpretation sector in Canada has been growing steadily. As in the translation sector, there is an increased demand for interpreters specializing in certain fields, including health, law, immigration, diplomacy and government affairs. Across the language services market, interpretation is the fastest growing sector, reflecting increasing multilingual access and compliance requirements.

Remote interpretation, including video and telephone services, is also growing rapidly, having become a permanent and evolving delivery model in public institutions, private markets and essential services. While technology and artificial intelligence improve efficiency and reach, professional interpreters remain essential in high-risk and high-stakes contexts, positioning interpretation as a core public service infrastructure rather than a discretionary service.

In Canada, the language industry is made up mainly of self-employed workers and small businesses. The Translation Bureau is the largest employer of translators, terminologists and interpreters (TR group—of which it has exclusive authority within the core public administration) and the largest client in the industry. The Bureau's translators, terminologists and interpreters are represented by the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), one of the largest unions in the federal public sector. CAPE frequently contests the working conditions of Bureau interpreters in the media and in public. From 2020 to 2024, it was very active in denouncing health and safety issues related to virtual and hybrid meetings. In 2025, it opposed the use of independent experts to evaluate the results of the accreditation examination.

CAPE will begin negotiations in 2026 for the renewal of the TR collective agreement. Typically, TR members opt for arbitration and not strike action in the event of an impasse in negotiations. That said, CAPE has had a strike fund for a few years and could opt for this measure. In such a case, it is highly likely that the interpreters would be designated as essential employees and would not be able to walk off.

The main professional association representing conference interpreters is the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC), which has more than 3,00  members in more than 100 countries. It advocates for its members, sets professional standards and supports training and professional development. In Canada, AIIC has approximately 120 members. It therefore does not represent all of the approximately 200 conference interpreters working in Canada's official languages. Some Translation Bureau employees and suppliers are members, but not all. And although it negotiates collective agreements for interpreters in certain international organizations, it does not play this union role for its members in Canada. Nevertheless, AIIC is registered in the Registry of Lobbyists of Canada and exerts political pressure on its members.

Like CAPE, AIIC has a strong presence in the media challenging the working conditions of the Translation Bureau's interpretation service suppliers. From 2020 to 2024, it severely criticized the measures taken by the Bureau to protect interpreters from acoustic incidents, and in 2025, it attacked the Bureau's procurement overhaul, urged suppliers not to bid on the new tool, and called on the Minister to cancel the procurement redesign as well as the last accreditation exam. It relies, in particular, on surveys conducted among its members, and makes statements that do not always reflect the facts. In the past, it has secured the cancellation of Bureau initiatives related to interpretation procurement and fights for the status quo, which would benefit its members.

9. Risk management

Issue

The Translation Bureau has adopted risk management mechanisms to guarantee the continuity, reliability and quality of interpretation services provided to Parliament.

Key facts

Key messages

If pressed on the risks of health and safety incidents:

If pressed on risks related to lack of capacity and succession:

If pressed on the risk of interpreters, employees or suppliers refusing to work in Parliament:

If pressed on quality and accreditation risks:

If pressed on risks related to financial constraints:

Background

The Translation Bureau manages interpretation risks in an integrated manner through a series of effective measures:

10. Next generation and ongoing commitment

Issue

The Translation Bureau works with Canadian universities to secure the next generation of interpreters and guarantee the viability of the language profession.

Key facts

Key messages

Background

For many years, the Translation Bureau has been working with the Canadian language sector to support and expand translation and interpretation education in order to cultivate the next generation of professionals and ensure the viability of the language profession. Public Services and Procurement Canada has been mandated to establish a scholarship program to train the next generation of official languages interpreters with its funds of up to $1.1 million over 5 years, starting in 2024 to 2025. The Translation Bureau awarded $1,000 scholarships to 6 first-year students, and $7,000 scholarships to 13 recent graduates from Glendon College and the University of Ottawa, for a total of $97,000 in scholarships (young interpreters).

The recent funding has made it possible to support first-year students and recent graduates, while supporting the improvement of specialized teaching equipment, a concrete lever for the viability of the profession and employability. It is relying on new university programs in interpretation to strengthen recruitment, including those launched at Université Laval and the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, as well as on its long-standing partnerships with the University of Ottawa and Glendon College (York University).

The Translation Bureau is present in universities by providing interpreters who teach students and by offering workshops to prepare students for accreditation.

As for the University of Ottawa and Glendon College, 8 and 5 graduates respectively could be ready to interpret on Parliament Hill in the spring of 2026 (following the successful completion of the accreditation exam). Université Laval could graduate up to 19 students in spring 2026, while the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières could graduate up to 19 in spring 2027, according to admission data available to the Translation Bureau. New graduates hired are supported by experienced interpreters for 2 years to prepare them for the accreditation exam.

11. Machine enabled linguistic services – GCtranslate

Issue

GCtranslate is the Government of Canada's first AI-assisted translation solution, designed to centralize linguistic data, improve consistency and provide faster and more secure translation services across the GC.

Key facts

Key messages

Background

Artificial intelligence plays a central role in modernizing public service operations as part of the Government of Canada's digital transformation. By improving efficiency, productivity and quality of service, it allows public servants to focus on value-added work that yields better results for Canadians.

As part of the Budget 2024 initiatives related to artificial intelligence, the Translation Bureau has developed a prototype machine translation tool powered by artificial intelligence. The Translation Bureau took advantage of the agreement between Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Microsoft to train a version of Azure AI Translator using its corpus of PSPC-specific texts. Called PSPCtranslate, the prototype was first made available to all PSPC employees in June 2025. The PSPCtranslate prototype had a satisfaction rate of over 90%. Users cite ease of use, accuracy, security, and the possibility of professional revision as their main advantages.

Given its success, the tool was deployed under the name GCtranslate in 6 other federal organizations: Canadian Heritage, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Financial Transactions Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), the Department of Finance, the Privy Council Office and the Treasury Board Secretariat (excluding PSPC). Participating organizations were selected to validate different aspects of the project, such as support for different size organizations, availability of required data, meeting the security requirements of each organization, compatibility between systems, etc. A broader deployment in the Government of Canada is planned for April 2026 (approximately 30 departments and agencies) and full deployment by March 31, 2027.

In addition to official languages translation, the Translation Bureau plans to explore the assistance that artificial intelligence can provide for writing, interpretation and voice recognition. In the long term, other tools will be added to GCtranslate to provide federal government employees with a self-service language centre powered by artificial intelligence. In particular, the Translation Bureau will study the support that AI can provide for translation into Indigenous and other languages.

The objective of GCtranslate is to enable public servants to translate routine texts securely and efficiently, with results validated by professional translators, as needed. Public servants remain responsible for complying with the Official Languages Act, including ensuring substantive equality between English and French in communications with Canadians and within the federal government. GCtranslate includes a disclaimer on this subject and a feature that facilitates revision requests to the Translation Bureau.

GCtranslate is not currently available on the parliamentary network; however, the Translation Bureau has worked with the National Research Council of Canada to develop artificial intelligence tools available to Translation Bureau translators to support the work of Parliament.

12. Financial situation of post-secondary institutions in Official Language Minority Communities

Question Period Card
Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture
and Minister responsible for Official Languages

Issue

Financial situation of post-secondary institutions in Official Language Minority Communities

Update

January 13, 2026

Source

N/A

Synopsis

Post-secondary institutions in official language minority communities often face limited funding and rely on public funds (federal, provincial and territorial governments), but these are often considered insufficient.

Recommended response

Background

Prepared by: Jean Marleau (613-266-3277)

Deputy Director General, Communications: Pamela O’Leary (343-576-3716)

Director General: Sarah Boily (819-635-7362)

Assistant Deputy Minister: Julie Boyer (613-852-4129)

Other

13. Relevant Order Paper questions related to interpretation services

Note: the data included below is as of the date of the question.

Q-2966 – September 17, 2024

The question was focused on how many times, since January 1, 2020, the Translation Bureau was unable to fulfill interpretation requests for Cabinet or Cabinet Committee meetings at the originally scheduled time due to a lack of resources, broken down by calendar year.

Response

In the response, first the Translation Bureau indicated that it had been actively meeting with clients, managing priorities, and working to grow interpreter capacity — and as a result, it was able to cover all interpreted events for Cabinet and Cabinet Committee meetings. Second, and more directly addressing the question, the Bureau does not actually track initial scheduled times for events, since the Cabinet meeting calendar is constantly changing. It only records assignments once completed, meaning it does not retain data on originally suggested or scheduled times. In effect, no specific numbers could be provided because the data was never collected.

S-314 – February 29, 2024

The question was focused on the Translation Bureau's simultaneous interpretation operations across fiscal years 2018 to 2019 through 2022 to 2023, covering 6 areas: interpreter hours by parliamentary body, staffing numbers (employees vs. freelancers), remote vs. in-person breakdowns, workplace injuries, cancellations due to interpretation issues, and any corrections to a prior answer (Q-535).

Responses

Interpreter Hours: House of Commons committee meetings consistently required the most hours, peaking at 8,544 hours in 2022 to 2023. All categories dipped in 2019 to 2020 (likely COVID-19 related) before recovering. Senate sittings had the fewest hours throughout.

Staffing: Employee interpreters outnumbered freelancers across most categories. Notably, freelancer usage at Senate and House sittings dropped sharply by 2022 to 2023 (down to just 4 each), while freelancer use at committee meetings actually grew.

Remote vs. In-Person: The Bureau does not track this distinction. It noted that aside from Senate Chamber sittings (now fully in-person), all work is treated as having a remote component by default.

Workplace Injuries: Data before 2020 to 2021 was unavailable. From 2020 to 2021 onward, the Bureau recorded hazardous occurrence reports related to interpretation and sound quality — totaling 153, 91, and 119 in the 3 available years respectively. The vast majority were "reported only" (no physical injury), with disabling injuries accounting for roughly one-third. House of Commons committee meetings had the highest injury counts. No freelancer injury data is maintained.

Cancellations: The Bureau cannot provide reliable data, as cancellation decisions rest with the chairperson of each session and the Bureau is not always informed of the reasons.

Corrections to Q-535 (2021 to 22 data): Minor updates were made: a few interpreter hours were added across House and Senate committees, the employee count was revised down from 65 to 62 for parliamentary work, professional fees were corrected upward from $5,142,159 to $5,155,624, and a small number of injury reports were reclassified.

Q-2180 – December 13, 2023

This question asked about Translation Bureau operations broken down by fiscal year since 2011 to 2012, specifically covering: total simultaneous interpretation hours, number of employee interpreters, number of freelance contractor interpreters, and the dollar value of freelance contracts — all split between House of Commons sittings and House committee meetings.

Responses

Hours of interpretation (Part a): Data for this entire question only goes back to 2017 to 2018, as the Bureau previously tracked interpreter-days rather than hours. Committee meetings consistently required more hours than House sittings. Hours dipped significantly in 2019 to 2020 (likely COVID-19 related), then recovered, reaching their highest levels in 2022 to 2023 at 6,370 hours for the House and 8,544 for committees.

Employee interpreters (Part b): The total number of employee interpreters grew modestly over the period, from 62 to 68. Committee meetings used significantly more employees than House sittings throughout.

Freelance contractors (Part c): Freelancers were used far more heavily for committee meetings than House sittings. Notably, freelance use for House sittings dropped sharply to just 4 in 2022 to 2023, down from 13 the year prior.

Dollar value of freelance contracts (Part d): The government was unable to provide this information, stating it is not centrally tracked.

Q-1434 – April 21, 2023

This question requested information on staffing, resources, turnaround times and backlogs at the Translation Bureau.

Responses

Staffing (Q: a): The Bureau has 32 staff translators for parliamentary documents/House committee reports, 42 for Debates/Hansard, 34 for committee sittings, and 665 for other Government of Canada departments.

Turnaround Times (Q: b): The response refers to an annex which contains turnaround times for translating reports and other documents for House of Commons committees for the periods April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2021, and April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2027.

Backlogs (Q: c and g): The government reports no longstanding backlog in regular operations. Exceptional large projects may fall outside normal service frameworks, but the Bureau works with partners to ensure these don't affect regular operations. The Deputy Minister and Chief Executive Officer provide the Minister with regular updates.

Additional Resources (Q: d and e): The Bureau supplements capacity with a private sector pool for large projects, with staff translators overseeing quality control when time permits. Turnaround times for large projects are negotiated with parliamentary partners based on volume and document format.

Explanation for Turnaround Times (Q: f): Deadlines for regular parliamentary work are set according to parliamentary needs and quality requirements under service agreements. Large project timelines are individually negotiated.

Work From Home Policy (Q: h and i): Since 2016 to 2017 the Bureau has had a progressive telework approach. As of April 2023, most translators are exempt from the government's 40% on-site hybrid directive and can work fully remotely — except those handling classified/Protected C documents, who rotate into the office.

14. Relevant written responses to committees related to interpretation services

Note: the responses below are as of the date of the response to the question.

Board of Internal Economy - June 13, 2024

Question

The Translation Bureau’s detailed onboarding plan, guide and monitoring strategy for new interpreters who are part of the new pilot project that grants entry‑level accreditation to promising candidates who did not qualify for full accreditation.

Response

The Translation Bureau (the Bureau) will continue to give priority to serving Parliament using fully accredited interpreters.

The Bureau has developed a pilot project for the general interpretation accreditation, applicable to Government of Canada conferences only (i.e. not services provided to Parliament). In support of the pilot project, the Bureau has developed a preliminary working document to provide a framework, as well as a guide and tools for supervisors. This preliminary working document continues to evolve and will be updated based on feedback obtained this fall.

As part of this pilot project, which is aimed solely at government departments and agencies, entry‑level accreditation would be granted to freelance official languages interpreters who have the skills to work on general, low-profile events, but not to be self-sufficient when working on complex, high-profile assignments. Through the pilot project, departments would be able to use Bureau interpretation services for their events, rather than hiring non-accredited interpreters themselves. The aim is to provide these interpreters with the resources and opportunities they need to gain experience and eventually qualify for full accreditation. As this is a pilot project, adjustments would be made over time, in light of results and lessons learned.

It has been the Bureau’s practice to hire recently graduated student interpreters and coach them for 2 years, or until they can pass the exam and obtain full accreditation. The Bureau already provides constructive feedback to candidates who narrowly fail the accreditation exam to help them eventually meet the high-quality standards for interpreting in Parliament. The pilot project builds on this experience.

Freelance interpreters taking part in the pilot project would benefit from a coaching plan to hone their skills while providing interpretation services for government conferences. They would also be encouraged to take the exam for full accreditation when the Bureau deems they have acquired the necessary experience and skills. As the Bureau has no employer-employee relationship with freelance interpreters, this support differs from that offered to trainee interpreters who are Bureau employees.

Like all Bureau freelancers, the pilot project interpreters would be subject to quality assessment. As part of its strategy to control and monitor the quality of interpretation services, the Bureau is considering several options, such as the use of recordings, to provide regular feedback to pilot project interpreters. These interpreters would be paired with experienced interpreters who would offer constructive advice and be ready to step in to support the new interpreters.

The Translation Bureau is confident that this plan would enable it to train skilled freelancers, discover new talent and increase its capacity to offer interpretation services.

Board of Internal Economy - September 29, 2022

Question

The Translation Bureau's plan for increasing the capacity of accredited interpretation services in support of the work of the House of Commons. This request also seeks to clarify, since June 23, 2022, the total net new (including departed) number of additional and accredited interpreters.

Response

The Translation Bureau has hired 7 additional interpreters since June 23, 2022. All of the interpreters are assigned in priority to Parliament (both the House of Commons and Senate). Assignments outside of Parliament have been significantly reduced to ensure capacity for Parliament's core activities. Please note that all new staff and newly accredited freelance interpreters were already included in the preparation of the fall 2022 schedule for the House of Commons and Senate.

The Bureau is also collaborating with the House Administration to provide expertise on the House of Common’s pilot project on interpretation in dispersed mode. Should the House decide to go forward with this new way to provide services, we stand ready to work towards its implementation. A dozen accredited freelance interpreters have already expressed an interest in participating in the project.

Question

The Translation Bureau's plan to address the long term, and industry-wide shortage of qualified interpreters, insofar as it relates to ensuring the continued and adequate support of the House of Commons.

Response

The Translation Bureau is continuing to work on several initiatives in order to tackle all aspects of the capacity issues. The Bureau works in collaboration with the only 2 establishments that offer a program in conference interpreting in Canada, i.e. the University of Ottawa and York University, to train the next generation of interpreters, and hires all graduates as interns.

Each year, the Bureau holds an accreditation exam that is open to candidates who meet the eligibility criteria. The most recent exam took place on November 4. Over 70 interpreters have taken the exam. Results are expected by January 2023. The exam has been held virtually since 2021, which allows more candidates to participate.

The Bureau is also exploring innovative solutions to increase capacity, including international recruitment. In addition, it will continue its discussions with its industry partners, in Canada and internationally, to find new ways to increase capacity and attract and retain new individuals to the profession.

Board of Internal Economy – March 3, 2022

Question

Can you differentiate between the number of injuries related to the parliamentary function, and the function of the cabinet and the Prime Minister? Is there a way to quantify how that's played out?

Response

The table below illustrates where hazardous incidents occurred in the last 3 years, distinguishing between the House of Commons, Senate, National Press Theater, PCO – Cabinet, and Other Government Departments. An incident is a situation in which a Hazardous Occurrences Report was filed. It is important to note that a hazardous occurrence report is not synonymous with an injury.

Table 1: Where hazardous incidents occurred in the last 3 years
Client 2020 2021 2022 to date (March 22, 2022) TOTAL
House of Commonstable 1 note * 65 43 20 128
Senatetable 1 note * 18 16 3 37
National Press Theatre 13 13 9 35
PCO - Cabinet 13 5 0 18
Other Government Dept. 5 21 1 27
TOTAL 114 98 33 245
Table 1 Note
Table 1 Note *

Including legislative chambers, committees and caucus meetings

Return to table 1 note * referrer

Board of Internal Economy - December 2, 2021

Question

Please indicate if 124 interpreters are sufficient for the needs of the House and its Committees (we understand that the 124 are in fact for all parliamentary activities that you support, both in the HOC and Senate).

Response

The Translation Bureau currently has the capacity to continue serving Parliament and the Government of Canada. For interpretation services in official languages, the Bureau can call upon approximately 65 staff interpreters and 60 freelance interpreters who were issued an open contract in 2021 to 2022 (Parliamentary stream).

Demand for interpretation services can greatly fluctuate. 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. Freelance interpreters are also solicited by the private sector, which is why the number of resources available to the Translation Bureau varies on a daily basis.

The Bureau serves Parliament on a priority basis 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.

The conference interpretation profession is a shortage group, not only in Canada, but around the world. The Bureau has been working on a number of initiatives for the past 30 years to increase the number of qualified staff and freelance interpreters it can rely on.

Question

Please indicate how many interpreters are francophones/anglophones

Response

All Translation Bureau interpreters (staff and freelancers) are tested and accredited to work bidirectionally (from English into French and vice versa), and as a result the distinction between anglophone and francophone interpreters does not apply in this context. The number of interpreters available varies on a daily basis. Whether the meeting is in-person, hybrid or virtual, Members of Parliament and witnesses may speak in the official language of their choice and the Translation Bureau’s interpreters stand ready to ensure full coverage in both official languages.

15. Committee member interventions regarding interpretation services

Hon. Steven MacKinnon

Political Affiliation: Liberal

Constituency: Gatineau, Quebec

Since 2022, Minister MacKinnon has focused on the Translation Bureau’s capacity to maintain services while facing labor shortages caused by low graduation rates and retiring specialists as part of the Board of Internal Economy. He investigated the correlation between remote work and rising auditory injuries, seeking to understand the health risks for both interpreters and parliamentarians. His inquiries highlighted the difficult technical trade-offs required to balance high-quality sound with the safety measures needed to prevent acoustic shocks.

Hon. Arielle Kayabaga

Political Affiliation: Liberal

Constituency: London West, Ontario

In the fall of 2025, Deputy Government House Leader Kayabaga’s inquiries at the Board of Internal Economy focused on the operational and financial sustainability of the interpretation model under the hybrid parliamentary system. She questioned how remote participation affects interpreter concentration and explored how the Bureau manages the heavy workload and irregular scheduling required for 24/7 sittings. She also addressed the 70% increase in service costs, challenging witnesses to explain if such spending is sustainable and how new rate structures might mitigate these expenses.

Yves Perron

Political Affiliation: Bloc Québécois, Quebec

Constituency: Berthier—Maskinongé

At the Board of Internal Economy’s February 12, 2026, meeting, MP Perron criticized the independent oversight of the Translation Bureau’s new procurement process, arguing that the presence of a Translation Bureau executive undermines its impartiality and dismisses concerns about service quality. He highlighted a 56% drop in freelance capacity, attributing the shortage to lowest-bidder contracts and persistent hearing safety issues associated with remote work. He also asserted that he preferred on site interpreters over off site as off site has created supposed delays.

Other members of the Board have not made significant interventions related to interpretation services.

Previous issues and concerns raised

Since 2020, committee members have consistently voiced alarm over what they have characterized as the precarious state of interpretation services, primarily focusing on a direct correlation between the hybrid Parliament model and a surge in interpreter injuries during the pandemic. Initial concerns centered on the high frequency of acoustic shocks and "near-miss" incidents caused by poor audio quality from remote participants. This led to calls for mandatory in-person attendance for witnesses and chairs, as well as strict "no headset, no participation" rules to safeguard staff. Members expressed ongoing frustration with the technical disparities between the House and Senate, arguing that member convenience was being prioritized over the physical safety of interpreters, who were suffering from debilitating headaches, fatigue, and long-term auditory damage.

In the summer of 2023, the committee’s focus expanded from immediate physical safety to the long-term breakdown of service capacity. Members tracked a "plateau" in available interpretation hours, which resulted in the cancellation of committee meetings and lost hours of parliamentary work. They examined the shortage of qualified personnel, noting that retirements were outlasting the slow influx of new graduates from Canada’s only 2 accredited programs. This sparked debate over experimental solutions, such as reducing shift lengths from 6 to 4 hours and launching pilot projects to utilize "near-certified" students or regional freelancers. In late 2024 and into 2025, the dialogue shifted toward fiscal sustainability as members contended with a 70% increase in service costs and the potential role of AI, all while maintaining that high accreditation standards must not be sacrificed to meet demand.

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2026-06-22