IRB-2024-IPS - 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. These contracts effectively work as a “roster” of potential interpreters who could be called upon to provide interpretive services at a hearing.
Selection for Contract Award:

When selecting an applicant for a contract, the IRB will consider several factors including the following:
• The fluctuation of language demand with respect to immigration trends from specific regions.
• Previous interpretation experience, whether for IRB or another organization;
• An interpreter’s fluency to read and speak orally in the required official and target language or dialect;
• Whether the interpreter is also intimately familiar with the customs and culture of the region(s) in which that language or dialect are spoken, which is very important for putting immigrants and refugees at ease and in conveying their meaning;
• The information provided by referrals submitted by applicants.
Any interpreter considered for a contract will also undergo various evaluations (oral interpretation abilities and sight translation both in the target and official languages) administered by the IRB.

Even interpreters who meet all of these requirements may not necessarily receive a contract. The IRB does not issue a contract to every qualified applicant, because the number of potential interpreters for any given language may be much greater than the number of interpreters that may potentially be required. All eligible applications are retained and are kept on file.

Contractors Scheduled for Hearings:
When contacting interpreters for individual hearings, given the short notice for many hearings, the IRB may simply call successive interpreters for the required language and dialect until it is successful in reaching one., The IRB makes every effort to distribute work equitably to all interpreters. However, there may be instances where some interpreters are assigned more hearings than other interpreters. This is due to an interpreter's availability and fluency in certain languages and/or dialects. Interpreters interested in participating in the IRB interpretive program are invited to submit their applications to the following:

Eastern Region (Quebec (Montreal and Ottawa); Atlantic Provinces)
https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/interpreters/Pages/SouSolMtl.aspx

Central Region (Ontario (Toronto and Greater Toronto Area))
https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/interpreters/Pages/SouSolTor.aspx

Western Region (British Columbia (Vancouver), Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (Winnipeg))
https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/interpreters/Pages/SouSolVan.aspx