The chief executive of Air Canada has found himself in political hot water after he was blasted by Francophone lawmakers for posting a video update on the crash of Air Canada Express flight AC-8646 only in English.
Facing the worst disaster to have struck Air Canada in many years, chief executive Michael Rousseau must now travel to Ottawa, where he has been summoned by the government’s Official Languages Committee to testify on why he didn’t also record the video in French.
Within hours of the fatal crash of an Air Canada Express regional jet operated by Jazz Aviation at LaGuardia Airport in New York late on Sunday night, Rousseau posted an official video update on the airline’s website and social media channels.
The video, which runs for around 3 minutes and 44 seconds, was spoken almost entirely in English, with Rousseau only saying ‘Bonjour’ at the start and ‘Merci’ at the end, in a nod to Canada’s second official language, French.
Although the video had French subtitles throughout, lawmakers have slammed the video, accusing Rousseau of having a “gross lack of respect towards the relatives and family” of Captain Antoine Forest, a French-speaking Quebecer, who tragically died in the accident.
Air Canada is subject to Canada’s Official Languages Act, which means the carrier must serve customers in both English and French. All public announcements, including messages from the airline’s senior leadership team, must also be made in both English and French.
Rousseau took the top job at Air Canada in 2021 despite the fact that he has never spoken French. Although he had lived in French-speaking Montreal for 14 years before taking the top job at the airline, Rousseau claimed he had never found the time to learn the language.
Just months after being appointed chief executive, Rousseau faced an official government probe into his lack of French language skills after he addressed a business conference in English only.
Following a public backlash over this incident, Rousseau had promised to take time out from his busy schedule to master the French language.
While Rousseau has reportedly improved his French skills, the airline said that he was not yet at a proficiency that would “allow him to convey such a sensitive message in that language as he would like.”
Air Canada has been the subject of several lawsuits over its apparent disregard of the French language.
In 2019, the airline was ordered to pay a French-speaking couple thousands of dollars in compensation because the word ‘Lift’, which is engraved on seatbelt buckles, wasn’t also engraved in French.
Michel and Lynda Thibodeau made a total of 22 complaints against Air Canada, accusing the carrier of flouting the requirements of the Official Languages Act.
Along with the seatbelt claim, the couple claimed the French word for ‘EXIT’ (‘SORTIE’) was written in smaller characters than its English equivalent, and the boarding announcements had more detail in English than in the French version.
Rousseau has been ordered to testify before the Canadian government’s languages committee on May 1.
