Latest update: 2023
CANADIAN TRANSLATORS, TERMINOLOGISTS AND INTERPRETERS COUNCIL
BY-LAWS (November 3, 2023)
INTERPRETATION
Definitions
1 The following definitions apply to these by-laws.
“Board of Examiners” means the Standardized Certification Examinations Board of Examiners established under section 31.
“CTTIC” means the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council incorporated pursuant to subsection 3(1).
“delegate” means any delegate appointed by a member society in accordance with section 12.
“member by affiliation” means any certified member in good standing of a member society.
“member society” means any association, corporation or society of translators, terminologists and interpreters listed as a member of CTTIC in subsection 3(2).
Interpretation
2(1) Unless otherwise stated, meetings to be held in accordance with these by-laws may be held in person, by telephone or through other electronic means of communication.
2(2) Any notice to be given in writing under these by-laws may be given by email or through other electronic means of communication.
2(3) In these by-laws, the singular includes the plural, unless the context dictates otherwise.
CANADIAN TRANSLATORS, TERMINOLOGISTS AND INTERPRETERS COUNCIL
Incorporation
3(1) The Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (Conseil des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes du Canada) is, by authority of the Supplementary Letters Patent issued by the Secretary of State of Canada on April 29, 1971, the legitimate successor of the Society of Translators and Interpreters of Canada incorporated on June 29, 1956.
Member Societies
3(2) CTTIC is comprised of the following member societies:
Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA)
Association of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of Manitoba (ATIM)
Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia (ATINS)
Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)
Association of Translators and Interpreters of Saskatchewan (ATIS)
Corporation of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of New Brunswick (CTINB)
Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC)
Purposes
3(3) The purposes of CTTIC are to:
a) foster co-operation among member societies;
b) promote uniformity of standards for the practice of the represented professions;
c) maintain relations with national and international organizations of translators, terminologists and interpreters.
Powers and duties
3(4) CTTIC has all the powers and duties delegated to it by its member societies, including:
a) organizing conferences, symposiums and other activities;
b) striking commissions or committees;
c) seeking affiliation with national and international professional organizations.
Official languages
4 English and French are the working languages of CTTIC. The Council and the Board of Directors decide which documents are to be available in both languages.
Administration of CTTIC
5 CTTIC is administered by the Council in accordance with these by-laws.
Fiscal year
6(1) CTTIC’s fiscal year begins on September 1 of a given year and ends on August 31 of the following year.
Finances
6(2) CTTIC is financed in accordance with the budget prepared by the Executive Committee for each fiscal year and ratified by the Council. Reasonable expenses not specifically provided for in the budget may however be incurred with the approval of the Executive Committee.
Dues
6(3) CTTIC is financed by the annual dues paid by the member societies based on their number of members by affiliation established under section 13. Annual dues are determined by the Council.
Signatures
6(4) Cheques and other documents that are binding on CTTIC can be signed by the president, the treasurer or the secretary-treasurer, or any other individual designated by the Executive Committee. However, no one may sign cheques for their own expenses.
MEMBER SOCIETIES
Autonomy of member societies
7(1) Since education requirements and the practice of any profession are under provincial jurisdiction, member societies maintain absolute autonomy in their respective geographical territories and in all matters within their jurisdiction.
Duty to cooperate
7(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), member societies must cooperate closely and take appropriate steps to ensure the progress of the represented professions as a whole and to protect the interests of the public and those of all translators, terminologists and interpreters in Canada.
Recommendations
7(3) The Council, the Board of Examiners and the Board of Directors may make recommendations to any member society if deemed to be in the best interest of a member society, CTTIC or the profession of translator, terminologist or interpreter.
Limit on extraterritorial certification exams
8 Member societies must not administer any type of certification exam outside Canada. Member societies who wish to administer such an exam in a province or territory where another member society exists must consult with that society before doing so.
Admission as a member society
9(1) Admission as a member society of a provincial or territorial society representing translators, terminologists or interpreters is subject to a decision of the Council.
Removal or suspension of societies
9(2) The expulsion, suspension or reinstatement of a member society against which a complaint has been lodged by another member society is subject to a decision of the Council made in accordance with subsection (3).
Commission of inquiry
9(3) Before expelling, suspending or reinstating a member society, the Council must establish a commission of inquiry to examine the matter, study the report of that commission and render a decision within six months, which shall be final. The society affected by the decision may not participate in the vote.
Right to leave CTTIC
10 Member societies have the right to withdraw their membership in CTTIC.
Representation through delegation
11 Through their delegate appointed in accordance with section 12, any member society has the right to be represented, to speak and to vote at all Council meetings.
Appointment of delegates
12(1) Each member society appoints, according to its own practices, a delegate mandated to represent it at the Council. In the absence of such an appointment, the society’s president is its delegate by default.
Substitute
12(2) If a member society’s delegate cannot attend a Council meeting, that society may appoint the delegate of another society to represent it, including in the event of a vote.
Membership declaration
13 Member societies submit, by September 1 of every year, a report stating the number of members by affiliation in good standing they have on that date.
COUNCIL
Council established
14(1) A Council is established and comprised of the Board of Directors and member societies’ delegates.
Role
14(2) The Council’s role is to:
a) provide general guidance to the Board of Directors;
b) ratify the budget prepared by the Executive Committee;
c) elect members of the Board of Directors at the annual general meeting.
Chair
14(3) Council meetings are chaired by the president of the Board of Directors.
Meetings
15(1) The Council may meet as often as it deems necessary and its members are entitled to vote. Regular meetings are to be called in writing at least two weeks in advance.
Annual general meeting
15(2) The Council has until no later than three months after the end of a fiscal year to hold CTTIC’s annual general meeting. The meeting is to be called in writing at least one month in advance.
Special meetings
15(3) The president must call a special meeting of the Council at the request of at least two member societies, who must specify the purpose of the meeting. The meeting is to be held within fifteen days of the request or, if a member society cannot be informed earlier, as soon as all societies have been informed of said meeting.
Quorum
15(4) The quorum of any Council meeting is a majority of both the delegates and the members of the Board of Directors.
Majority vote
15(5) Decisions of the Council are to be made by a majority vote of its members.
Observers at meetings
15(6) The Council may invite representatives of groups of translators, terminologists or interpreters or other individuals to its meetings as observers. Such representatives may speak but not vote.
Minutes
16(1) The minutes of each Council meeting must be made available to all member societies within 45 days.
Written report
16(2) Each fiscal year, the president must send a report to member societies no later than the day of the annual general meeting for the following fiscal year.
Travel expenses
17 Delegate travel expenses are paid for by the corresponding member society, and those of the Board of Directors, by CTTIC. The Council must ensure that the travel expenses incurred by the member societies are equitable, reasonable and proportionate.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Role
18(1) The role of the Board of Directors is to:
a) execute the general direction set by the Council;
b) oversee CTTIC’s activities and manage its affairs;
c) oversee and support the activities of the Board of Examiners.
Powers and duties
18(2) The Board of Directors has the powers and duties delegated to it by the Council, including those necessary to fulfill its role as set out in subsection (1).
Composition
19 The Board of Directors is composed of the Executive Committee and the Board of Examiners, and may include members-at-large.
Executive Committee
20(1) The Executive Committee is composed of the president, the vice-president, and either the secretary and the treasurer or the secretary-treasurer.
Responsibilities of the Executive Committee
20(2) The Executive Committee overseas and supports the activities of the Board of Examiners and is responsible for matters pertaining to CTTIC’s financial affairs.
Election
21(1) At the annual general meeting, the Council selects the members of the Board of Directors from among the members by affiliation. The Council must ensure that there is a fair representation of member societies among the elected members of the Board of Directors.
Term
21(2) Members of the Board of Directors are elected for a term of one year, renewable twice, after which they must wait one year before being eligible for re-election to the same position. They may hold a different position on the Board of Directors during the one-year waiting period. However, the term of the chair of the Board of Examiners may be renewed more than twice.
Vacancy
21(3) The Board of Directors may appoint a replacement for any Board vacancy.
Role of president
22(1) The president acts as chair of the Council, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, and represents CTTIC nationally and internationally. The president is accountable to the Council for all decisions of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee.
Role of vice-president
22(2) The vice-president assists the president and replaces the president in their absence.
Role of secretary
22(3) The secretary calls the meetings of the Council, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee at the president’s request and writes the minutes.
Role of treasurer
22(4) The treasurer maintains the accounts and prepares the financial statements and the budget.
Role of chair of the Board of Examiners
22(5) The chair of the Board of Examiners carries out the Board of Examiners’ mandate with direction from the Executive Committee.
Assignment of duties
23 Notwithstanding the roles described in section 22, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee may assign any of its powers or duties to any of its members.
Meetings
24(1) Meetings of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee are to be held at the request of the president acting on their own initiative or at the request of another member of the board or committee. They may be held as soon as a majority of the members have confirmed their ability to attend, but there must first be an attempt to contact each member.
Majority vote
24(2) Decisions of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee are made by a majority vote of its members.
Chair: single vote
24(3) The chair of the Board of Examiners has one vote.
Travel expenses
25 Travel expenses for members of the Board of Directors are to be paid by CTTIC.
Statement of accounts, report
26 The Executive Committee must provide the Council with a statement of accounts, and the report of the auditor designated by the Board of Directors, within three months of the end of the fiscal year.
MEMBERS BY AFFILIATION
Representation at Council
27 Members by affiliation are officially represented at Council by the delegate of their member society. They may be allowed to attend meetings and speak on certain matters before Council but are not eligible to vote.
Invitation to serve on task forces
28 The Council, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee may invite any member by affiliation to serve on CTTIC committees and task forces.
Permitted titles
29(1) Members by affiliation are entitled to use the following titles, and the abbreviated forms indicated to their right, on their business cards and in their promotional material, as they pertain to their certification category:
a) member by affiliation:
Member of the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (by Affiliation) => Member of CTTIC (by Affiliation)
b) translator:
Certified Translator (Canada) => C. Tran. (Canada)
c) interpreter:
Certified Interpreter (Canada) => C. Int. (Canada)
Certified Community Interpreter (Canada) => C. Comm. Int. (Canada)
Certified Conference Interpreter (Canada) => C. Conf. Int. (Canada)
Certified Court Interpreter (Canada) => C. Crt. Int. (Canada)
Certified Medical Interpreter (Canada) => C. Med.Int. (Canada)
d) terminologist:
Certified Terminologist (Canada) => C. Term. (Canada)
If titles protected
29(2) In a jurisdiction where the use of such titles is protected by law, certified professionals in that jurisdiction who wish to use the national title must include, before the word “Canada” and inside the parenthesis, the acronym of that province’s body from which they hold their certified status. They may not use the expression “Certified by CTTIC”, “Certified Member of CTTIC” or any similar wording suggesting that CTTIC is the certifying body.
Membership in more than one member society
30 Membership in more than one member society will be governed by the provisions of the Mutual Recognition Agreement. However, member societies are free to reject applications if they believe such a membership would be contrary to their interests.
STANDARDIZED CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS BOARD OF EXAMINERS
Board of Examiners established
31(1) CTTIC hereby establishes the Standardized Certification Examinations Board of Examiners.
Mandate
31(2) The Board of Examiners’ mandate is to administer all standard certification examinations organized across Canada by CTTIC for translators, terminologists and interpreters.
Chair, officers
31(3) The chair of the Board of Examiners is elected by the Council, but the Executive Committee may fill vacancies by appointment. The officers necessary for the operation of the board are appointed by the Board of Directors.
Board of Examiners’ operation
32 The operating, financial and management guidelines for the Board of Examiners are established by the Executive Committee.
RULES OF PROCEDURE AND BY-LAWS
Rules of procedure
33 Procedural questions not provided for in these by-laws are decided in accordance with “Robert’s Rules of Order.”
By-laws
34 The Council may amend or replace its by-laws by a majority vote; the resulting bylaws come into effect upon approval by the Council