Air Canada C.E.O. Draws Scorn for Delivering Condolences in English
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau addressed the aftermath of a collision between an Air Canada jet and a truck at LaGuardia Airport in a video message aimed at comforting victims and families.
- Rousseau's decision to deliver the message almost entirely in English, with minimal French, sparked criticism in Canada, where French is an official language and the family of one deceased pilot is Francophone.
- The airline defended Rousseau, citing his limited French language skills and the urgency to communicate quickly after the incident.
- Due to public backlash and complaints to Canada's bilingualism commission, a parliamentary committee overseeing language laws has summoned Rousseau to explain his language choice and ordered him to appear by May 1.
