Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada - Interpreter Program

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) is Canada's largest independent administrative tribunal. It is responsible for making well-reasoned decisions on immigration and refugee matters, efficiently, fairly and in accordance with the law. The IRB decides, among other responsibilities, who needs refugee protection among the thousands of claimants who come to Canada annually. Every year, the Board renders thousands of decisions on refugee protection and immigration matters. At these hearings, refugees and immigrants who are not fluent in English or French count on the IRB to provide them with interpretive services. These interpretive services are required in a wide variety of languages and dialects, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the refugees and immigrants who come to Canada. In order to manage the interpretive services required for such a large number of hearings, including urgent hearings, IRB issues contracts to interpreters who provide services on an “as-and-when-requested” basis and invoice for any services they provide. All interpreters are paid the same flat hourly rate. …