Comments on: Don’t be a court interpreter in Winnipeg!

By: MF Kenny

MF Kenny — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:41:04 +0000

Hello, bonjour,

I am in Saskachewan and a court interpreter too. My fees : $100 per hour with a minimum of 3 hours. And I do get a lot of requests. They used to pay $35 until they realized they couldn’t get anyone because that’s the usual going fee for interpreters and they are quite in demand. Take a stand and don’t agree to charge less. It’s their legal obligation to provide services in both official languages and they have to pay what is fair. Not against volunteering, but only for not for profit org.
Cheers!

By: Moshu

Moshu — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:21:45 +0000

Just click on his name here > About. You will find out where he is :)

By: Tatiana

Tatiana — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:03:30 +0000

Hi Werner;
$25 is not appropriate, you are right. It is more than $50 a day; but you are correct - it is peanuts.
Are you in Ontario? I am wondering which companies are able to pay the rates you’ve quoted… or perhaps you’re working on conference interpreting. Either way I would be curious to find out.

By: InvisibleMinority

InvisibleMinority — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:28:14 +0000

Werner, I fully agree with your decision (and fee)…
Or I will just leave it for others and not taking new assignments, at least not in WPG.

By: Werner Patels

Werner Patels — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:07:39 +0000

Being the trained and accredited professional that I am, I wouldn’t accept $25 an hour. I don’t even leave my home on an interpreting assignment unless I get a minimum of $250 (even if the assigment is just for 10 or 5 minutes).

Look at the hourly fees of other professions (accountants, lawyers, doctors, etc.) and tell me again if $25 an hour is appropriate for an interpreter or translator.

By: Tatiana de Oliveira

Tatiana de Oliveira — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:55:51 +0000

That is unreal. Here in Toronto, Court Interpreters get a minimum of $75.00 for 3 hours; even if they only work for 2 minutes (like set-date court). After that, it’s 25 dollars for every extra hour. I almost can’t believe they are paying you $50.00 for the whole day. Move to Ontario!

By: Werner Patels

Werner Patels — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 23:04:06 +0000

You most certainly are not alone.

By: InvisibleMinority

InvisibleMinority — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 22:31:47 +0000

Thanks for stopping by and commenting on this. At least I can be sure I am not alone with my opinion!

By: Werner Patels

Werner Patels — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 22:07:42 +0000

Which is exactly why I no longer work for “the authorities”. I don’t interpret in courts and I don’t translate personal documents for official purposes.

It’s not worth my time, and I don’t work for peanuts. As a trained, qualified and accredited translator and interpreter, I am no hobo who can be bought off with a pittance.

Those, of course, who are not trained and accredited can do as they please, but that’s what we have the grey and black markets of translation for.