The chief executive of Air Canada is apologizing for not being able to express himself adequately in French after releasing a video message of condolence on the deadly plane crash in New York on Sunday.
Michael Rousseau has been criticized for the four-minute video posted online that only included two French words — “bonjour” and “merci.”
“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,” he said in a statement Thursday.
“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.”
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Prime Minister Mark Carney said the decision to release the video message only in English showed a “lack of judgment and lack of compassion.”
Quebec Premier François Legault called it disrespectful to the airline’s employees and its francophone customers, adding that if Rousseau doesn’t speak French, he should resign.
Rousseau has also been summoned to testify at the House of Commons official languages committee.
The Air Canada Express flight that crashed was flying from Montreal to New York’s LaGuardia Airport, and many of the travellers and crew — including Antoine Forest, one of the two pilots killed — were French-speaking Canadians.
Forest and fellow pilot Mackenzie Gunther died when the aircraft collided with a fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia on Sunday night.
It isn’t the first time Rousseau’s lack of French has landed him in trouble.
Following a speech in 2021 that was almost entirely in English to the Montreal chamber of commerce, he told reporters he did not need to learn French to get by in Montreal — comments that sparked backlash and for which he apologized the next day.
Rousseau also pledged at the time to improve his French.
As a former federal Crown corporation, Air Canada is subject to the Official Languages Act, which requires that it offer services in French for routes that include airports in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.
Time to move Air Canada’s headquarters to Winnipeg. It’s the center of Canada and people can speak any language they want and can freely express their religious beliefs.
How petty, turning someone’s apology into a political ‘tempest in a Tea pot’.
The Quebec Act 1774 allowed Quebec to keep it’s civil law, language and religion. This Act was radically different than other acts in it’s time in that it didn’t suppress the French speaking population. Now we have to live with Quebec’s arrogance and intolerance! (language police, repression of other religious beliefs, and dependance on handouts (transfer payments).
Really this is what’s important when Air Canada lost two young pilots. Really get a life. If I was the president I would move the head office to Toronto or Calgary or Vancouver. That would solve the problem.
Loss of life is being overlooked by something totally unimportant.
Yes, he should have learned the language by now but making him resign over only speaking in english? He at least should have had someone translate for him in french, even though that wouldn’t have gone over well either, at least it would have been more respectful for Antoine’s Forest’s family and the rest of the french speaking Canadians. His job requires that he speak both languages, so it’s a failure on his part to do so. I say give him a second chance and a time frame, and if he shows no commitment, then ask for his resignation, and if he does, make him own up to his mistake by having him call the family and properly apologize in french.
You all seem to have forgotten that it was QUEBEC voters that won Carney the Prime Ministers seat last federal election so HE OWES THEM BIG TIME for making PM of Canada and THAT is why he is making a stink about what language this man used to offer up his CONDOLENCES TO 99% OF THE CANADIAN POPULATION.
NO apology needed. High time that all those people who live in Quebec LEARNED HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH, the FIRST canadian language since 99% of the population speaks it. The FEW demanding that everyone speak a language that no one uses outside of QUEBEC except when they speak their FRENCH in front of others who do NOT SPEAK THEIR FRENCH. Move Air Canada’s head office to Alberta where most albertans have better manners then that. Majority speak english so that is where Air Canada’s head office belongs.
Okay. The Block Party leader 80%+- French all the time, correct? And when at news questions about issues picks out french reporter. It goes both ways; speak English along with French (50-50) or stay in Quebec. It’s beyond thinking that people are more worried about the words than the people injured or died is more important.
Mr Rousseau, it was extremely sad that your message was in English only!!!
It showed a lack of respect to all your bilingual employees at Air Canada, your province of Quebec and sadly to the French pilots!!!
Shame on you!!! You stated in 2021 (which is exactly five years ago) that you would pursue French lessons?
Regards,
Calls for his resignation amplified by the Liberals political agenda, its pure hypocrisy by Carney. If those pilots were Chinese Canadians would he be expected to speak Mandarin ? And before you say the two official language nonsense remember airports banks and other institutions use several language’s.
No apology needed. What an absolute joke.
Global news is a dead agency. Give it five years. Making “news” out of this is one of the big reasons why.
It appears that the anarchist saying “Never let a crisis go to waste.” Is what is driving this nonsense about not speaking french in his statement and the Carney political points aftermath.
Carney distracting from the terrible event deaths of two young men is typical of his ability to try and make it all about something from which he and the Liberals with profit politically in Quebec. Such a callous and unethical way to use a tragedy for his own ends.
It seems mr carney’s attempts to score political points are having a different outcome than he wants, enjoy the egg on your face.
What is wrong with you people (complaining about the lack of French in the CEO statement) , two individuals lost their lives in this terrible event . All attention should be on the cause of this incident and making sure the two pilots families are getting all the support they deserve. Pressure the bodies that watch over airport operations, communication and staffing . Your voice on these matters would be better served than complaining about what language a CEO speaks. And remember, English is the universal language in the Aviation world . Rest In Pease Antoine and Mackenzie.
Why apologize? Air Canada isn’t federally owned anymore, it’s a private company and English is the international language of aviation
English is the only language used in the aviation world .
It’s actually the other way around.
Canada is disappointed in Carney incompetence and bias
Mr Rousseau could have pulled a sentence from the Gov-Gen re her lack of speaking French:
“As a Canadian and as a Quebecer, I understand very well the critical relationship among identity, culture and language. That is why speaking my mother tongue, ‘English’, has been an integral part of who I am”. (PS… we substituted ‘English’ for the Gov-Gen’s language of ‘Inuktitut’ in her original comments).
No one cares. We are an English speaking country. More people in Canada speak Hindi or Mandarin than French. Let that sink in!
Only idiots are whining about him not speaking French. And of course that include PM idioto
Rich for Carney, or any Liberal, to speak about what anyone else is “lacking”. Nothing but a distraction by Carney. Many French Cdns were stripped of their language and culture – he shouldn’t apologize for that!
We should be remembering the names Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forrest who were the 2 pilots that lost their lives in the AC crash instead of Michael Rousseau for speaking in English only
As a Quebecer, I do not feel he has anything to apologize for. I am not offended that he did not address it in French. His condolences to the families was heartfelt in English. This has become political and is taking away from the actual tragedy that occurred. I think the attention should be re-directed towards aviation safety instead of the French language. Some people need to get their priorities in check
On behalf of all Quebecois who are not liberal cult zealots, I was and am equally disturbed by mark carny skipping the French language debate during the election