Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau to Retire Following Language Controversy Air Canada announced on Monday that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire in the fall after nearly two decades with the airline, a decision linked to a recent controversy over his English-only condolence message following a fatal plane crash. The announcement came a week after Rousseau’s remarks sparked widespread backlash, particularly from Quebec politicians and officials, who criticized his lack of French proficiency. The crash of Air Canada Flight 8646 on March 22, which killed two pilots—including a francophone from Quebec—became the focal point of the controversy. The incident occurred when the flight, departing from Montreal, collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, resulting in the deaths of first officer Mackenzie Gunther and captain Antoine Forest. Forest, a native of Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, was a francophone, and his death intensified scrutiny of Rousseau’s language skills. Air Canada, headquartered in Montreal, mandates that employees communicate in both English and French, yet Rousseau’s English-only message, issued shortly after the crash, drew sharp criticism. Rousseau’s apology on Thursday acknowledged his inability to speak French adequately, stating he had “deeply saddened” that his language barrier had overshadowed the mourning families’ grief. However, many viewed the apology as insufficient, arguing it failed to address the broader implications of his remarks. The controversy escalated as Rousseau faced calls for his resignation from Quebec Premier François Legault and other officials. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet also condemned the message, with Blanchet calling it a “sad and gross lack of respect” for Forest’s family.#air_canada #quebec #michael_rousseau #francophone #official_languages_committee
Mark Carney criticizes Air Canada for its English-only condolence message after LaGuardia crash Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned Air Canada’s decision to issue a condolence message in English only following the fatal collision at LaGuardia Airport, calling it a “lack of compassion.” The incident, which killed two of the airline’s pilots, including 30-year-old Antoine Forest, a French-speaking resident of Quebec, has sparked widespread criticism over the company’s failure to acknowledge Canada’s bilingual identity. Carney emphasized that as a bilingual country, Air Canada, as a major Canadian corporation, has a duty to communicate in both English and French. The CEO, Michael Rousseau, faced backlash for releasing the message in English only, despite the fact that one of the deceased pilots was from French-speaking Quebec. Rousseau, who has been criticized in the past for his limited French proficiency, was summoned to Ottawa to explain his decision. The parliamentary Committee on Official Languages also demanded he address the issue, stating the message violated the Official Languages Act and public expectations. The crash occurred on Sunday night when an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport shortly after landing from Montreal. Dozens of passengers were injured, with six still hospitalized. Rousseau’s message, which was released in English, drew sharp criticism from political figures, including Quebec Premier François Legault, who called for Rousseau’s resignation if he could not meet French language requirements. Rousseau, an anglophone living in Montreal, has faced scrutiny since his 2021 appointment as CEO. His past comments about not learning French despite living in Quebec for over a decade drew criticism.#mark_carney #la_guardia_airport #air_canada #michael_rousseau #francois_legault
