February 22, 2023 - OTTAWA – Issues of importance to TR members were the focus of an introductory meeting between the Canadian Association of Professional Employees and the new chief executive officer of the Translation Bureau.
On Friday, February 17th, CAPE President Greg Phillips, met with Dominic Laporte, who took over the helm of the Translation Bureau on January 3, 2023 following an official announcement made the previous month.
The lengthy discussion revolved around the interpreters’ ongoing health and safety issues, the translators’ struggle with overtime, and with lack of clarity and consistency when it comes to the burden of responsibility for the revision of texts, especially when automated translation is involved. More generally, artificial intelligence and machine learning were also touched upon, considering the government’s increased appetite for automation and its potential impact on the work of interpreters, translators, and terminologists.
Mr. Laporte reiterated the Translation Bureau’s commitment to resolving the many enduring problems plaguing CAPE members, expressing a keen desire to work collaboratively with CAPE’s leadership to solve these issues.
At the time of this meeting, the Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) had ordered the Translation Bureau to implement a handful of corrective measures by no later than February 6, 2023.
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In attendance
Dominic Laporte CEO, the Translation Bureau
Participants from CAPE
Greg Phillips President
