1. What is the cost for interpreting services for the Legislative Assembly when the House is in session for one month, including wages and benefits, travel, accommodation, per diems, contract services and any committee meetings?
The costs for interpreting services for the Legislative Assembly when the House is in session is approximately $345,000 which is calculated based on a cost of approximately $11,500 a day for 30 sitting days, or six calendar weeks. This amount includes salaries, benefits and overtime for interpreter/translators, as well as the cost of travel, accommodation and meals for regional interpreter/translators. It also includes the average cost of contracting for additional French and aboriginal language services for the Assembly for this period of time.
2. How many hours of Legislative Assembly proceedings are broadcasted each day on radio and television in aboriginal languages?
There are two hours of television broadcasting in Inuktitut and one Dene language every day. Dene languages are used in this broadcast in rotation. The approximate cost of providing television broadcasting of the Legislative Assembly proceedings is $8,000 a year. There is no radio broadcast coverage of the Legislative Assembly in aboriginal languages at this time.
3. What are the average wages of government interpreters?
The language bureau of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment currently has 26 interpreter/translators.
The salaries of 18 of these employees range from about $45,000 to $50,000.
There are five assistant interpreter/translators and their salaries range from $38,900 to $42,700.
There are also three interpreter/translator managers who provide language services. Their salaries range from about $55,500 to $65,600.
4. What are the average wages of interpreters at hospitals?
There are currently 75 clerk interpreter/translators working in hospitals boards and health centres in the Northwest Territories. Three earn approximately $33,000 to $37,000, and 72 earn approximately $29,000 to $33,000.
5. What are the average wages of court interpreters?
The Department of Justice has two interpreter/terminologists on staff, one in Fort Smith and one in Iqaluit. Their salary is, on average, approximately $50,000.
Legal interpreters on contract with Justice earn $40 an hour if they are certified and $30 an hour if they are not certified.