Translation services may be privatized as result of program review

The Gallant government is asking private industry if it has any interest in taking over French-English translation for the provincial government.

Employees at the provincial translation bureau in Fredericton learned in an email earlier this month the provincial government wants to see if it could save money by farming out their responsibilities to private companies.

So far, the provincial government is only looking for expressions of interest, but the decision is causing concern among the civil servants working at the bureau.

Donald Arseneault, the minister responsible for official languages, says the translation request is part of his government's strategic program review.

By looking for expressions of interest, the province will be able to determine whether the translation services can be delivered more efficiently.

"Time will tell if that's the case," said Aresenault.

He did not offer any specifics on a timeline for when a decision would be made, but he did say the strategic program review is nearing an end.

He said any changes would take into consideration the provincial government's obligation to serve both the English and Francophone communities, while respecting the requirements the Official Languages Act.

Concern from the official languages commissioner

However, Katherine d'Entremont, the province's official languages commissioner, is cautioning the government to tread carefully before it sends its constitutional obligations out to private industry. 

"Despite the exploratory nature of this initiative, I believe it needs to be handled with great care," d'Entremont said in a statement released by her office.

"In fact, the services provided by the Translation Bureau are a key component in the delivery of quality bilingual services in the province. The equal status of English and French in New Brunswick requires the government to provide services of equal quality in both of these languages. Consequently, the quality of translation services must not be compromised in any way."

D'Entremont said she plans to follow the issue very closely and expects to discuss it with provincial government officials before any decision is made.

Concerns have been raised that if translation services were privatized, the buyout packages would be needed for the affected translators.

"That may not even happen," said Arsenault. "Let the program review panel do its work."