Court Interpreters In Ottawa Demand Pay Hike

Court cases in Ottawa could stall as freelance interpreters refuse to work for wages that they say have barely changed in 15 years.

With only three staff interpreters, Ottawa courts rely heavily on the area’s 100-some freelancers, who provide interpretations in languages ranging from French to Farsi.

A loosely organized group of interpreters have vowed to stop taking new assignments until the province raises their pay to $35 an hour. This group includes the majority of French, Arabic and Spanish interpreters in the area, Costa says.

The Court Interpreters Association of Ontario (CIAO) has asked its members to turn down work in the region in solidarity.