Air Canada’s CEO, Michael Rousseau, has announced his retirement set for the fall after serving with the airline for nearly two decades. This decision comes after he faced criticism for delivering a condolence message primarily in English following the crash of Flight 8646 in New York. The incident, where the plane collided with a fire truck upon landing at LaGuardia airport on March 22, resulted in the tragic deaths of two pilots and injuries to numerous others.
Rousseau initially expressed condolences in a video the day after the crash, but the predominantly English message drew swift backlash, especially considering one of the deceased pilots, Antoine Forest, was a francophone from Quebec. Air Canada, based in Montreal, mandates that its employees be proficient in both of Canada’s official languages.
The response to Rousseau’s message was critical, with Prime Minister Mark Carney and other prominent figures condemning his lack of judgment and compassion. Calls for Rousseau’s resignation ensued, while some individuals, like former Alberta premier Jason Kenney, defended him, emphasizing the importance of focusing on safety and service reliability over language skills.
In a subsequent statement, Rousseau admitted his ongoing struggle to communicate effectively in French despite years of language lessons. However, this apology was deemed inadequate by many observers. Following the controversy, Rousseau was summoned to appear before the Official Languages Committee in Ottawa, while Quebec’s National Assembly proposed a motion for his resignation. The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages received over 2,200 complaints regarding Rousseau’s remarks.
Air Canada has been contacted for a response by CBC News in light of these developments.
