The embattled chief executive of Air Canada has publicly apologized for his lack of French language skills after he was slammed for releasing an English-only video message about the fatal crash of an Air Canada Express regional jet at LaGuardia Airport late on Sunday.
Headquartered in French-speaking Quebec, Air Canada is subject to Canada’s Official Languages Act, which means that it must serve passengers in both English and French.
All official communications from the airline must be provided in both languages, and there has been a long-held expectation that senior leaders at Air Canada are fluent in English and French.
Appointed as Air Canada’s chief executive in early 2021 after many years of living in Montreal, Michael Rousseau has never been able to master the French language, despite repeated promises that he planned to do exactly that.
On Monday, Rousseau released a video update on the crash of flight AC-8646 in which he paid his condolences to the two pilots, including Captain Antoine Fores, a native Quebecer and French speaker, who were tragically killed in the accident.
Rousseau spoke entirely in English, except for saying ‘Bonjour’ and ‘Merci,’ although the video was subtitled in French.
The backlash over the blunder was swift and fierce. Rousseau has already been summoned to appear before the Canadian government’s official languages committee in Ottawa on May 1 to explain himself, while Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a public rebuke, saying he was “disappointed” in Rousseau.
Carney added that Rousseau’s video message showed a “lack of judgment and lack of compassion,” given that he was addressing family members of passengers and crew who had been on board the plane that departed French-speaking Montreal.
Rousseau had previously committed to learning French after a controversy in late 2021 when he addressed a Quebec business forum in English only.
Four and a half years later, Rousseau remains unable to confidently speak French.
“Despite many [French language] 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,” Rousseau said on Thursday.
“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’s apology and renewed promise to improve his French language skills have done little to take the heat out of the furore surrounding his ‘insulting’ video message, amidst calls that he resign.
On Thursday, however, Rousseau seemed determined to remain in his position.
Even before Rousseau took the top job at Air Canada, the airline had faced criticism over its alleged disregard for 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.
Latest updates on the crash of AC-8646
- Four passengers and crew members remain in the hospital following Sunday night’s collision between the Air Canada Express regional jet and an airport fire truck at LaGuardia International Airport.
- The wreckage has now been towed from the runway where the crash occurred and into a hangar at LaGuardia.
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered the Black Boxes (a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder) from the plane and transported them to its headquarters in Washington DC.
- The NTSB has urged the public not to make any assumptions about the cause of the accident.
- A preliminary report is expected to be released within 30 days.
- Air Canada has retired the AC-8646 flight number, given its connection with such a tragic accident.
