US EditionAir Canada CEO apologizes for inability to express himself adequately in French
Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau apologized for his limited French after issuing an English-only condolence video following a fatal crash that killed two pilots, including one from Quebec.
- The Quebec government is calling for the resignation of Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau, citing his "contempt" for Francophones after he released an English-only condolence video following a fatal pilot collision at LaGuardia Airport.
- Rousseau previously sparked outrage in 2021 after living 14 years in Montreal without speaking French, and despite pledging to improve, he remains unable to communicate in the language three years later.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was "disappointed" by the video, while Justice Simon-Jolin Barrette labeled Rousseau a "repeat offender" lacking sensitivity toward Francophones and urged Air Canada to "force him to resign."
- On Tuesday, the House of Commons summoned the executive to appear before the Official Languages Committee, citing Air Canada's obligations under the Official Languages Act despite its 1988 privatization.
- The airline faces constant complaints regarding a lack of French services, though Air Canada spokesperson Christophe Hennebelle claimed the company used subtitles to ensure the message reached everyone directly.
87 Articles
87 Articles
Michael Rousseau, the CEO of the airline, was openly criticized for presenting the company's condolences only in English, after the death of two of its pilots in a collision in LaGuardia, New York. The main figures of the government did not ...
Air Canada CEO Apologizes for ‘Inability to Speak French’ in Message Following Plane Crash
Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau has apologized for being unable to speak French fluently after releasing a video message offering condolences in English to the families of two pilots killed in a plane crash at a New York airport earlier this week. Rousseau has faced criticism for the video statement he released on March 23, which was delivered in English except for the French words “bonjour” at the start of the video and “merci” at the end. “I a…
The resignation of the CEO of Air Canada was also raised over the English-language video released after the plane crash.
leprogres.fr
vosgesmatin.frA few days after a speech of condolences from Air Canada's CEO, who hardly spoke in French, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs assured us that all of the country's leaders must be bilingual.
The Hamilton Spectator
‘I am deeply saddened’: Air Canada CEO apologizes for English-only condolence video following fatal plane crash
Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau is apologizing for an English-only video after the fatal AC8646 crash at La Guardia Airport. PM Mark Carney calls the unilingual message a “lack of judgement.”
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