OTTAWA — When Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette gave a speech last year entirely in Cree, hardly any of his fellow parliamentarians in the House of Commons understood a word he said. That’s because Commons rules recognized only French and English as languages deserving of simultaneous translation. Members of Parliament from all parties have accepted a report that recommends interpretation services be made available on request for any MP who wishes to use one of more than 60 Indigenous languages in the Commons or in a Commons committee. Reasonable notice must be given so that the House administration has time to secure, if possible, the required translation service. Ouellette expressed hope that the move will help save “the original languages of Canada,” which are in danger dying out.

Source: National Post November 30, 2018 17:37 UTC