Volume 15, No. 2, August 2011

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The Bulletin

Acquisitions and Directory Services (ADS)
Volume 15, No. 2, August 2011

Information for freelance interpreters

A message from Alain Wood, Director, Interpretation and Parliamentary Translation

I am pleased to introduce the first in a series of articles in The Bulletin, the Translation Bureau's supplier information newsletter, written specifically to support freelance interpreters in their dealings with the Parliamentary Services and Interpretation.

This first article is intended to familiarize you with the three interpretation services and provide some helpful advice.

I would like to remind you that once you have successfully completed the accreditation process set out on the Bureau's website, you have to submit your initial request for registration in the Directory to Acquisitions and Directory Services if you want to offer your services to us. Complete details are available in the Supplier Info section of the Translation Bureau's site. Please note that this article is also being sent by email, but future articles will be posted only on the Bureau's site.

I hope you will find these articles useful. Please contact the individual interpretation services or Acquisitions and Directory Services if you would like more information.


Alain Wood
Director
Interpretation and Parliamentary Translation
Translation Bureau
Telephone: 613-992-0294 | facsimile: 613-996-8794
alain.wood@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca
171 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0S5
Public Works and Government Services Canada


Conference Interpretation

The Conference Interpretation Service provides interpretation for federal departments and agencies at conferences and international events and during high-level missions between Canada and other countries.

The Service comprises two sectors—Official Languages (English and French) and Foreign Languages—that are separate but have almost identical administrative structures; the two sectors work closely together. Assignment decisions are made by senior interpreters with support from strong administrative teams that handle operational matters, intake and analysis of client requests, and invoicing.

Contacts
See IMPORTANT INFORMATION below

 

Parliamentary Interpretation

The Parliamentary Interpretation Service provides interpretation in Canada's two official languages for the House of Commons, the Senate and their committees, the Cabinet, caucus meetings and parliamentary associations. Interpreters are also called upon to accompany senators and members of Parliament travelling in Canada or abroad.

Assignment decisions are made by a senior interpreter with support from a strong administrative team that handles operational matters, intake and analysis of client requests, and invoicing.

Contacts
See IMPORTANT INFORMATION below

 

Closed Captioning and Visual Interpretation

Since 1980, the Translation Bureau has been providing eligible federal departments and agencies with visual interpretation:

  • Quebec Sign Language (QSL)
  • American Sign Language (ASL)
  • English and French oral
  • deaf-blind intervenor.

These services enable federal public servants who are deaf or hard of hearing to perform their professional duties by taking part in meetings, training sessions, etc. They are also provided for public events, such as Canada Day, and national and international conferences organized by the Government of Canada.

In 2007, the Translation Bureau extended the range of services provided to members of the public who are deaf or hard of hearing by creating the Closed Captioning and Visual Interpretation (CCVI) service, which provides bilingual live closed captioning of the House of Commons Question Period broadcast on the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC).

Contacts

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Remember to:

  1. carefully read and comply with the terms and conditions of any documents you receive (service offers, contracts, emails, etc.) in order to prevent delays or misunderstandings;
  2. sign and date the two copies marked "ORIGINAL-TO BE RETURNED" as soon as you receive them and send them back to us as quickly as possible, because we absolutely must have the signed contracts before the assignment begins;
  3. send us your invoices IMMEDIATELY after the assignment in order to prevent any administrative delays you may encounter, particularly with regard to payment;
  4. send contracts and invoices to Reception so that they can be stamped (date and time of receipt);
  5. regularly provide us with any useful information (change of mailing or email address, telephone number, etc.);
  6. provide the Translation Bureau and Buyandsell.gc.ca (formerly Contracts Canada) with information about your company.

Useful links