Mr. Speaker, I have a return to another oral question, this one asked by Ms. Mike, a question she asked on the 6th of April. Ms Mike asked what the qualifications of the official languages coordinator were, in the context of a series of questions on the effect of lay-off notices in the legal interpreter training program. Upon reviewing this series of questions and the responses to them, it would be useful to clarify that the official languages coordinator is an employee of the Department of Justice, while the official languages unit, with responsibilities for official languages policy throughout the government, is based in the Department of the Executive.
An interdepartmental committee has been formed to determine how best to deliver interpreter training, given the federal government cutbacks for French and aboriginal languages. The mandate of the committee is to eliminate possible duplication of the costs for interpreter training programs and to maximize the benefits of each program for all persons taking training.
Avery, Cooper & Co. has been contracted by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to conduct a study and recommend how the government can best deliver interpreter training programs for all types of interpreters, given severely decreased funding. Interpreter training programs are currently offered through the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment, Health and Social Services, and Justice. Following the review, the program for training interpreters will be adjusted in order to eliminate possible duplication of services, while maintaining our ability to train qualified medical, legal and general-purpose interpreters.
The final report from the study will be submitted to the interdepartmental committee by the end of May. The committee will use the report as a basis to make recommendations to Cabinet about how best to deliver interpreter training. Thank you.