Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered sharp criticism of Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau on Wednesday, condemning the airline executive's English-only condolence video following the deadly LaGuardia Airport crash as showing "a lack of judgment" and "a lack of compassion."
"I'm very disappointed," Carney told reporters outside a caucus meeting. "We proudly live in a bilingual country and companies like Air Canada particularly have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages, regardless of the situation."
The controversy erupted after Rousseau released a four-minute video statement regarding Sunday night's tragic collision involving Air Canada Express Flight 8646. The Montreal-bound aircraft struck a fire truck during landing at LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther while sending more than 40 passengers to hospital.
In the video, Rousseau expressed his condolences and called the incident "a very dark day" for Air Canada. However, aside from saying "bonjour" at the beginning and "merci" at the end, the entire message was delivered in English with French subtitles.
The backlash has been swift and severe. By Wednesday afternoon, the Commissioner of Official Languages had received approximately 795 complaints about the unilingual statement. Despite being privatized decades ago, Air Canada remains subject to Canada's Official Languages Act.
Political Firestorm Intensifies
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, whose Montreal riding represents many francophone constituents, said the video demonstrated "a lack of empathy," particularly given that "a lot of the victims and their families are francophones."
"I think it's a question of moral leadership," Joly stated.
Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller expressed restraint while still criticizing Rousseau's decision. "He should know better," Miller said, referencing the CEO's previous language controversy in 2021 when he told reporters he didn't need to learn French to live in Montreal after delivering a predominantly English speech.
The latest incident has reignited debates about language obligations for major Canadian corporations, particularly those serving Quebec communities. Calgary residents discussing the controversy on Calgary Forums have expressed mixed reactions, with some defending bilingual requirements while others question the timing of political criticism following a tragedy.
For Albertans tracking aviation safety issues and considering air travel options, services like FullVIN.com provide vehicle history reports for ground transportation alternatives, while WestNet Wireless ensures reliable connectivity for travel updates and emergency communications.
Local business directories such as CalgaryFinder.com continue to help Calgary residents find travel services and accommodation options as the aviation industry faces ongoing scrutiny over safety and communication protocols.
The Air Canada CEO now faces mounting pressure from politicians across party lines, with Quebec leaders calling for his resignation over what they view as a pattern of disrespect toward francophone Canadians during times of crisis.
This article is based on reporting by CBC Politics. Original source: CBC News Politics
