Michael Rousseau, the chief executive of Air Canada, has announced his intention to retire from his position by the close of September. This decision comes as Rousseau faces significant public and political backlash stemming from a condolence video he recorded, which was largely delivered in English following a tragic airline incident.
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Rousseau, who has served as CEO since 2021 and as CFO since 2007, became embroiled in controversy after an Air Canada Express flight crashed on March 22 at New York LaGuardia. The regional jet was involved in a collision with an airport fire truck that was crossing the runway, tragically claiming the lives of both pilots, Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther. Forest was a resident of Quebec, a predominantly French-speaking province, and Air Canada’s headquarters are located in Montreal.
The Condolence Video and Its Repercussions
The nearly four-minute condolence message released by Rousseau was delivered primarily in English, accompanied by French subtitles. The only French phrases included were “bonjour” at the opening and “merci” at the conclusion. This perceived lack of full bilingual communication ignited a firestorm of criticism across Canada, reaching as far as the federal capital in Ottawa.
Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly condemned the video, stating it demonstrated a significant lack of compassion. Carney underscored Canada’s bilingual nature, asserting that major corporations like Air Canada bear a particular responsibility to communicate in both official languages in all circumstances. Members of Canada’s Parliament also voiced their disapproval, leading to Rousseau being summoned to testify before the Official Languages Committee of the House of Commons regarding the matter.
Official Apology and Future Leadership
In response to the mounting criticism, Rousseau issued an apology on March 26. He expressed profound regret that his personal inability to speak French fluently had overshadowed the grief felt by the affected families and Air Canada employees. He acknowledged his ongoing efforts to learn French but admitted he was still unable to articulate himself adequately in the language, for which he sincerely apologized.
Air Canada’s board of directors has since initiated a search for Rousseau’s successor, considering both internal and external candidates. The board’s statement explicitly noted that a candidate’s ability to communicate in French would be a key performance criterion in their assessment, signaling a clear response to the recent controversy and reaffirming the airline’s commitment to Canada’s official languages policy.
