TORONTO — Air Canada has announced that its CEO will retire later this year, amidst a wave of criticism for his English-only condolence message following this month’s tragic crash at LaGuardia Airport. CEO Michael Rousseau communicated his intent to step down before the third quarter, a decision directly linked to backlash from the Canadian public and leaders alike.
The crash resulted in the deaths of Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, both pilots on an Air Canada Jazz flight. Rousseau's choice to issue his condolences solely in English, paired with public calls from Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec Premier François Legault for a more compassionate and bilingual response, has added pressure on the airline's leadership.
As Canada is officially bilingual, the reaction to Rousseau's message, which included French subtitles but was primarily delivered in English, generated hundreds of complaints to the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. Many view the incident as a reflection of ongoing tensions regarding Quebec's identity.
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon expressed gratitude for Rousseau's leadership amidst the difficulties, highlighting the need for Air Canada to remain committed to providing bilingual service to the nation.
Quebec's cultural identity has been a delicate issue since the British took control of the territory known as New France in the 1760s, where about 80% of the population speaks French. Rousseau's appointment in February 2021 came with promises to learn the language, which remains central to many residents' expectations of their national airline.
