TORONTO (AP) — Air Canada has announced that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire later this year following backlash over his English-only condolence message in response to a recent crash in New York. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of two pilots, escalated criticisms regarding Rousseau's language choices in Quebec, where French is the predominant language.
The crash occurred when an Air Canada Jazz flight collided with a fire truck shortly after landing at LaGuardia Airport. Rousseau's condolence message, delivered solely in English, was met with stern criticism from Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec officials who highlighted the need for linguistic respect in Canada’s bilingual landscape.
Rousseau notified the airline's board of his decision to step down by the end of the third quarter of this year. He had previously promised to learn French after being appointed as CEO in February 2021, but faced backlash for failing to do so effectively. Since the announcement, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages has received numerous complaints related to his message.
Quebec Premier François Legault remarked on the situation, emphasizing that Rousseau's actions reflect ongoing tensions regarding Quebec's identity, especially as about 80% of the province’s population speaks French. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon acknowledged Rousseau's contributions but reiterated the importance of providing bilingual services to all Canadians.
Moving forward, Air Canada aims to re-establish its commitment to bilingualism and improve relations with its Francophone community, as it navigates the complexities surrounding its corporate leadership.
