By Rajitha Sivakumaran
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I
n 2011, Statistics Canada reported that
over 200 languages are spoken in Cana-
da and 80 per cent of those who spoke
a second language live in the nation’s larg-
est metropolitan areas. Toronto, for exam-
ple, is home to a staggering 140 different
languages. Moreover, Canada is a bilingual
country; by law the population must be
served by English and French.
Accompanying this vast amount of linguis-
tic diversity is a great responsibility to en-
sure communication with every Canadian,
regardless of their fluency in English and/
or French. Certain regulations like universal
health care need to be accessible equally
to all Canadian citizens. Legal services
function in a similar manner; the right to an
interpreter is obligatory. What’s causing a
stir is the lack of standardization across all
agencies in the translation and interpreta-
tion business. What’s undersold is the risk
2
business elite canada
H
SEPTEMBER 2016
