6. LANGUAGE INDUSTRIES
6.1 Where we are now
6.2 Our plan
The Action Plan is structured around an accountability framework and three
areas of development: education, communities and the public service. The Plan’s
success depends on support from Canadians, such as interpreters and translators,
who work in what has become known as the language industries. Because the
objectives cannot be achieved without these workers, the Government has
identified certain strategic measures that could benefit this industry.
Certainly, the language industries have until now provided services essential
to Canada’s ability to function as a bilingual country. As well as having
brought about the production and distribution of official documents in both
languages, they have made it easier to access government programs and have
fostered communication between English- and French-speaking Canadians. These
industries have also generated meaningful employment and have assisted Canadian
companies in their business endeavours with partners around the world.
However, nothing must be taken for granted. Certain deficiencies have been
noted in the current situation.
6.1 Where we are now
The language industries are facing four main challenges.
1. Industry fragmentation
The explosion of language occupations has given rise to a proliferation of
microbusinesses only now beginning to consolidate their efforts. Industry Canada
estimates that the 15,000 people in the language industries are self-employed or
work for companies that employ a handful of specialists. Most translators (83%)
are self-employed or work in microbusinesses with annual revenues under
$500,000.65 There are very few large companies and collaboration between them is
minimal. Although some organizations have been formed, no one group represents
all of the businesses. As a result, language industry products and services are
negotiated separately, in relatively modest portions. The partnerships that
would normally be helping to strengthen the industry are failing to do so. In
May 2002, Industry Canada’s consultations on Canada’s Innovation Strategy
brought together a number of professionals at a symposium on language
industries. The participants mentioned this fragmentation as one of the
difficulties faced by their industry.
2. Lack of visibility
The Canadian language industries are largely unrecognized, both here and
abroad. Their reduced visibility in the eyes of the Canadian public explains in
part why young people and their teachers, guidance counsellors and the education
sector as a whole are largely unaware of employment perspectives in this field.
3. Inadequate succession planning
The human resources aspect of the issue is one of the most serious problems
the language industries face. The Canadian Translation Industry Sectoral
Committee estimates that 1,000 new translators would have to be hired each year
in order to replace those who are leaving and to meet the growing demand.
4. Inadequate investment in research and development
There is no R&D data on the language industries. Given their
characteristic fragmentation, the language industries have neither the critical
mass nor the strategic planning and leadership required to benefit from R&D
investment. The private sector does not have the available funds, and the
Government has not focussed on the industry’s needs.
6.2 Our plan
The Government can play a role as a catalyst in the economic development of
the language industries. It intends to provide them with mechanisms and tools
that will help them take responsibility for their own growth. It is time for the
Government to go from its previous practice of supporting only the purchase of
products and services, to a support approach that is more in tune with industry
forces.
STRENGTHEN TIES BETWEEN LANGUAGE INDUSTRIES AND INCREASE THEIR VISIBILITY
Every strategy requires first of all that language industries be able to work
together and take collective action to achieve greater visibility. The
consultations held as part of the Government’s Innovation Strategy,
particularly the symposium held in May 2002, were the initial step: for the
first time, leaders in the language industry came together to identify the
barriers to their expansion.
To help language industries remedy the problems of fragmentation and
succession planning that they raised, the Government will be providing $5
million between now and 2008 to help establish a representative organization and
fund coordination activities. This organization will foster networking between
businesses in the industries and other partners in the public and private
sectors. It will help them establish strategic directions, and improve their
ability to respond to the increasing demand for products and services. Since the
biggest challenges are succession planning and skill development, this
organization will develop shared human resources strategies and introduce
initiatives to overcome the problems.
A further Government investment of $5 million will help start up market
promotion and branding initiatives in Canada and internationally. Increased
visibility for the industries will attract more new talent.
HELP CREATE A LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTRE
In order to remedy insufficient research and to help produce new
technologies, the Government would like to increase investments in the area of
research and development. By dedicating $10 million to this area, and in
cooperation with the National Research Council, it will help establish a
research centre in Gatineau, Quebec where specialists will pool their resources
and will be able to build on the cutting-edge skills necessary to ensure the
development of the language industries.
Thus, with a representative organization, more networks, increased
coordination, and a research centre on new technologies, our language industries
will be better equipped to support a bilingual Canada in its efforts to take
full advantage, now more than ever, of its linguistic duality.
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