The Federal Court of Canada has ruled the federal government must provide sign language interpreters to deaf Canadians who use federal government services.

Until now, those wanting sign language interpretation were forced to pay for the service themselves.

Sheila Carlin, the Winnipeg-based president of the Canadian Association of the Deaf, said Tuesday the court ruling will have huge implications across the country.

She said it means that when deaf Canadians take part in a Statistics Canada survey, for example, they will have a sign language interpreter present, paid for by the government.

"Everybody's ecstatic because what it means is that their frustration will be eliminated," Carlin said, speaking through interpreter Bonnie Heath.

"Finally, we can now — as deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind citizens — have access to the government, because sign language interpreters … will be provided. The cost associated with those fees, as a group, historically, we've had to pay those."

The cost of hiring a sign language interpreter can range from $40 to $60 an hour.

Carlin said she hopes the court decision will trigger provincial and municipal governments, as well as industry, to improve services for deaf Canadians.

The association represents 300,000 deaf people across the country.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2006/08/16/deaf-services.html