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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has publicly criticized Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau for delivering an English-only condolence message following Sunday’s fatal plane crash in New York, calling it a display of poor judgment and lack of compassion.
Rousseau’s four-minute video message, which included only the French words “bonjour” and “merci” with French subtitles for the rest, has sparked widespread outrage across Canada, particularly in Quebec. The controversy has intensified as one of the two pilots killed in the crash, Antoine Forest, was a French-speaking Quebecer.
The CEO has now been summoned to appear before Parliament’s official languages committee to address the matter. The incident occurred when Air Canada Jazz flight collided with a fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday evening, resulting in the deaths of pilots Forest and Mackenzie Gunther.
“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 in both official languages,” Carney stated on Wednesday. “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.”
The controversy has particular resonance given Air Canada’s headquarters in Montreal, Quebec, where French is the predominant language. This isn’t the first time Rousseau has faced criticism over language issues. When appointed as president of the airline in February 2021, he promised to learn French—a commitment that Quebec Premier François Legault pointed out has apparently gone unfulfilled.
“If he still doesn’t speak French today, it’s disrespectful to his employees and to his francophone customers, so yes, I think that if he doesn’t speak French, he should resign,” Legault said.
The language issue touches on deep historical tensions in Canadian society. Quebec’s cultural and linguistic identity has been a contentious matter since the British takeover of New France in the 1760s. Today, approximately 80% of Quebec’s population is French-speaking, and language rights remain a sensitive political issue.
Federal Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet took an even stronger stance, suggesting the Air Canada board should force Rousseau out. “He should leave. He should acknowledge the fact that he doesn’t have the requisite respect for Quebec society,” Blanchet stated. “There is a limit to the number of insults that one is supposed to stand.”
The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages has reportedly received hundreds of complaints about Rousseau’s video, underscoring the depth of public concern over the issue.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly emphasized that many of the victims and their families are francophones, making Rousseau’s English-only message particularly insensitive. “It is a question of moral leadership,” Joly remarked.
Not all politicians have joined the chorus of criticism, however. Jason Kenney, a former Conservative Cabinet minister, defended Rousseau, suggesting that the CEO of Canada’s flagship carrier should focus on “safety and reliability” rather than “language training.”
Air Canada has not immediately responded to requests for comment on the controversy or the calls for Rousseau’s resignation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Carney confirmed that Canadian officials continue to work closely with their American counterparts to investigate the cause of the crash at LaGuardia Airport.
The incident highlights the ongoing importance of Canada’s official bilingualism, particularly for national institutions like Air Canada, and the expectation that corporate leaders will respect both official languages, especially during times of crisis and when addressing sensitive matters affecting both anglophone and francophone communities.
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9 Comments
While the crash itself is tragic, the CEO’s handling of the condolence message is also concerning. As the national airline, Air Canada has an obligation to communicate in both English and French, especially during a crisis. This failure to do so is disappointing.
This is a disappointing lapse in judgment by the Air Canada CEO. As the national airline, they need to be mindful of Canada’s official bilingual status and ensure their communications reflect that, especially in times of tragedy. The public deserves better.
I’m curious to hear the CEO’s explanation for the unilingual message. Air Canada has a responsibility to serve all Canadians, including the significant French-speaking population. This incident raises questions about the company’s respect for linguistic duality.
This is a disappointing situation for Air Canada and its leadership. As a national carrier, they have an obligation to communicate in both official languages, especially during a tragic incident. The CEO’s unilingual response shows a lack of sensitivity and cultural awareness.
I agree. Air Canada needs to do better at upholding its bilingual mandate, particularly in times of crisis. The Canadian public deserves better from one of our major airlines.
The Air Canada CEO’s unilingual condolence message is concerning. Given the tragic nature of the incident and Air Canada’s role as a national carrier, they should have communicated in both official languages. This seems like a clear failure to uphold their responsibilities.
I agree. The CEO needs to appear before the official languages committee and explain this misstep. Air Canada must demonstrate a stronger commitment to bilingual communications, especially in sensitive situations like this.
While the crash itself is tragic, the CEO’s poor handling of the condolence message is concerning. Communicating in both English and French is critical for a company like Air Canada that serves all Canadians. This lapse in judgment warrants a thorough review.
Absolutely. The CEO needs to appear before the official languages committee to explain this failure and commit to improving Air Canada’s approach to bilingual communications going forward.