Air Canada CEO Apologizes for Lack of French in Condolence Message
Michael Rousseau, the chief executive of Air Canada, has issued an apology for his inability to communicate adequately in French following a plane crash that resulted in the deaths of two pilots. His four-minute condolence video, posted online after the incident, contained only two French words: "bonjour" and "merci".
In a statement, Rousseau expressed regret that his limited French language skills detracted from the focus on the families' grief and the professionalism displayed by Air Canada's employees during this difficult time.
"I am deeply saddened that my inability to speak French has diverted attention from the profound grief of the families and the great resilience of Air Canada’s employees, who have demonstrated outstanding professionalism despite the events of the past few days," Rousseau said.
"Despite many lessons over several years, unfortunately, I am still unable to express myself adequately in French. I sincerely apologize for this, but I am continuing my efforts to improve."
Political Reactions and Calls for Resignation
Quebec Premier François Legault publicly called for Rousseau's resignation on Wednesday, criticizing the CEO's language shortcomings. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also commented on the situation, stating that Rousseau showed a lack of compassion and judgment. Trudeau indicated he looks forward to hearing more from Air Canada's board of directors regarding the matter.
Details of the Crash and Victims
The crash involved Air Canada Jazz flight at LaGuardia Airport, where the aircraft collided with a fire truck on the runway during landing. Among the two pilots killed was Antoine Forest, a French-speaking Quebecer. The other pilot, Mackenzie Gunther, also lost his life in the accident.
Language and Cultural Context
Air Canada is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, where French is the primary language. Rousseau has faced criticism in the past for his limited French proficiency. His condolence video was delivered in English with French subtitles.
Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, emphasized Canada's bilingual nature, noting the country has two official languages.
Quebec's identity has been a subject of contention since the British conquest of New France in the 1760s. Approximately 80% of Quebec's population speaks French.
Previous Controversies and Language Efforts
Premier Legault highlighted that when Rousseau was appointed president of Air Canada in February 2021, language issues were already a concern. The office of the Commissioner of Official Languages has received hundreds of complaints regarding Rousseau's recent video.
Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, recalled a prior controversy:
"Back in November 2021, less than a year after he was appointed CEO of Air Canada, one of his first major speeches in his role triggered a strong controversy among Francophones, as the speech was almost exclusively in English,"
"At the time, in response to that controversy, Rousseau apologized and pledged to learn French. He did later take French lessons but, as the new controversy suggests, it was probably not very successful to say the least."
Opinions on Priorities for the CEO
Jason Kenney, a former conservative cabinet minister, expressed his view that Rousseau should prioritize safety and reliability over language training, given the demands of his role as CEO of Canada's flagship airline.
