Air Canada’s top executive has been called to Ottawa to clarify why he delivered his condolences solely in English to the families affected by the recent tragic plane collision at a New York City airport. The Official Languages Committee made the decision to summon Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau after a video message he released contained minimal French content.
Following the incident where Air Canada Express Flight 8646 collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport, resulting in fatalities and injuries, Rousseau expressed his deep sorrow in the video, describing the event as a dark day for the airline. Despite the video featuring French subtitles, the use of only a few French words by Rousseau sparked significant backlash, with over 795 complaints received by the official languages commissioner.
Various politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, publicly criticized Rousseau for his language choice. Blanchet, particularly, voiced strong disapproval, questioning whether Rousseau’s actions had disqualified him from his position due to the perceived lack of respect towards the French-speaking community.
In response to the criticism, Air Canada defended Rousseau’s decision to speak predominantly in English, stating that he aimed to convey his message clearly under the emotional circumstances. The airline highlighted that while Rousseau’s French proficiency was limited, efforts were made to ensure the message was accessible to all by providing subtitles in both official languages.
This is not the first time Rousseau has faced language-related scrutiny, as he previously faced backlash for similar incidents. However, Rousseau expressed remorse for his past actions and acknowledged the importance of learning French, emphasizing his commitment to language proficiency while leading Air Canada, a company governed by the Official Languages Act.
