Quebec Premier François Legault has spearheaded calls for Air Canada chief executive Michael Rousseau to resign, branding his English-only condolence message after a fatal New York airport crash as a profound cultural slight.
The controversy has gripped Canada, where English and French share official status under the 1969 Official Languages Act, imposing strict bilingual duties on carriers like Air Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney joined the criticism, telling reporters on Wednesday that the response revealed “a lack of compassion.” He stressed, “We live in a bilingual country, and companies like Air Canada particularly have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages.”
The tragedy unfolded late Sunday when Air Canada Flight AC3888, arriving from Montreal at LaGuardia Airport, collided with a fire truck while taxiing post-landing. The crash killed pilots Antoine Forest, a 30-year-old from French-speaking Quebec, and Mackenzie Gunther. Air Canada confirmed 42 passengers injured, with four still hospitalised as of Wednesday.
Rousseau quickly posted a video on X expressing “deepest sorrow for everyone affected.” He added, “We know this is a difficult day for everyone, including all of us at Air Canada,” with bilingual subtitles but English audio only.
Parliament’s Official Languages Committee summoned him by 1 May, deeming it “incompatible with the obligations set out in the Official Languages Act and the expectations of the Canadian public.”
This echoes Rousseau’s past troubles. Upon his 2021 appointment as CEO, despite living in Quebec for years, he faced backlash for weak French skills. Asked why he had not learned the language, he replied, “If you look at my work schedule, you’d understand why.” He later apologised and pledged improvement.
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet called the message a “sad and gross lack of respect towards the loved ones and family of the pilot,” noting Forest was a “French-speaking Quebecer.” Legault insisted Rousseau step down if unable to speak French.
Air Canada, privatised in 1988 from Crown roots, must maintain bilingual practices. The row highlights waning bilingualism, with Statistics Canada reporting a 2% decline since 2021.
NTSB investigators, led by Chair Jennifer Homendy, are interviewing controllers. Transcripts show both vehicle and plane cleared for the runway in the final minutes, pointing to possible coordination lapses.