We are an organization comprised of Court Interpreters who provide services to the various courts in the Province of Ontario.
Our main purpose is to initiate, sponsor, promote, and implement policies and activities which will further the profession of interpreting and translating, and especially in court. We provide a collective voice for our members and promote professional standards and integrity among our affiliated members while trying to enhance the status and dignity of our profession. Furthermore, we seek to upgra
de the professional skills of court interpreters to meet the increasing demand for quality interpretation and translation services in our justice system. We strive to attain wider recognition from the judicial community and from the public at large in respect to the unique role and the invaluable function that court interpreters perform within Ontario's legal proceedings. Last, we also seek to improve our working conditions and remuneration, so that they are commensurate with such great responsilities. Board of Directors
Court Interpreters in Ontario are accredited by the Ministry of the Attorney General and the majority of them work on a fee-for-service (freelance) basis in the court system of the province, mainly in criminal and family courts. There are some interpreters that have contracts or are staff of the Ministry of the Attorney General and provide services in a determined courthouse, mainly in Toronto and Brampton. Some interpreters are accredited in more than one language. The Ministry of the Attorney General has a registry that contains the names, contact information and other details about each interpreter in the system which allows the courts to contact them when their services are required. Needless to say, interpreters rely strongly on their smart phones to get assignments and to contact court staff. Court interpreters are free to accept of decline assignments. Usually, the request for an interpreter is made in advance of the date when the service is needed. However, there are times when the request is made on the very same day and the search for an interpreter begins expeditiously. Some interpreters prefer to work locally, which means that they work in their local headquarters (the courthouse that is closest to their home address), while others prefer to travel out of town. Many interpreters try to accept as many assignments as possible to maximize their earnings. Court interpreters are also privately contracted to provide services in civil courts (except in French), small claims court, visits to detention centres, conference calls, appointments at lawyers’ offices, etc. Occasionally, interpreters are contracted to do written translations of evidence material. In the case of private contracts, interpreters are free to negotiate their remuneration fees. Provincial Offences courts (also known as Traffic Courts) also make use of the MAG Court Interpreter Registry to access interpreters. For further information on how to apply to become a court interpreter and to get details about the new Court Interpreter Test contact the Ministry of the Attorney General at : Court Interpretation Services in Ontario
