Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau for giving a condolence speech only in English, and Rousseau was summoned to testify before Canada's official languages committee for not offering condolences in French. Carney expressed disappointment in the message, stating it showed a lack of compassion and that Air Canada has a special responsibility to communicate in both official languages. Rousseau shared a four-minute condolence video online that included only two French words: 'bonjour' and 'merci'.
The video was posted in response to the death of two pilots in a crash at LaGuardia Airport. Antoine Forest, one of the two pilots killed in the crash at LaGuardia Airport, was a French-speaking Quebecer, and Air Canada is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, where French is the primary language. Quebec is about 80 percent French-speaking, making it a predominantly Francophone province.
We proudly live in a bilingual country. There are two official languages here and Air Canada has a special responsibility whatever the situation to communicate whatever the situation in both official languages.
When Michael Rousseau was appointed president of Air Canada in February 2021, he promised to learn French as part of his commitment to the role. Rousseau said his understanding of French was 'fair' and that he had lived in Montreal for 14 years without needing to know the language, which sparked further criticism. After facing backlash, Michael Rousseau apologized and said he would take French lessons to improve his proficiency.
The specific actions or consequences that might result from Rousseau's testimony before the committee remain unclear. The response from Air Canada's board to the controversy and Rousseau's apology has not been publicly detailed, leaving questions about potential internal repercussions.
I am extremely disappointed by the message released by the CEO of Air Canada. It shows a lack of compassion, and we will be closely following his comments before the official languages committee as well as the comments coming from the board of Air Canada.
I've been able to live in Montreal without speaking French, and I think that's a testament to the city of Montreal.