Canadian leader criticizes Air Canada CEO's English-only condolences
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau for delivering an English-only condolence message after a deadly crash in New York, calling it lacking in compassion and judgment.
- Rousseau is being summoned to testify before Parliament’s official languages committee after his four-minute video included only two French words, despite the airline's Montreal headquarters and the French-speaking background of one of the pilots killed.
- Quebec Premier François Legault and Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet called for Rousseau’s resignation, citing his failure to speak French as disrespectful to francophone employees and customers.
- The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages has received hundreds of complaints about Rousseau’s video, and Industry Minister Mélanie Joly criticized the message for lacking empathy and moral leadership.
- Canadian officials continue to collaborate with American counterparts to investigate the cause of the crash, while some, like former minister Jason Kenney, suggest Rousseau should prioritize safety and reliability over language training.
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