Air Canada announced that Chief Executive Officer Michael Rousseau, 68, will step down by the end of the third quarter of the year. The decision came after Rousseau faced significant backlash for delivering a message of condolence exclusively in English following a crash earlier in the month at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
The incident killed two Air Canada Jazz crew members, including Antoine Forest, a French-speaking pilot from Quebec. Rousseau’s condolence video, which included French subtitles but was delivered in English, drew criticism from government officials and the public. The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages received hundreds of complaints regarding the message. Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Rousseau’s decision to retire is “appropriate” and emphasized that the next CEO must be bilingual. Quebec Premier François Legault also called for the resignation and pledged that the airline’s board would ensure the next leader speaks French.
Canada is an officially bilingual nation, and language represents a particularly sensitive issue in Quebec, which is approximately 80% French-speaking. Rousseau had previously faced criticism for his lack of French language skills. When appointed president of the airline in February 2021, he had committed to learning French but did not follow through. Political science professor Daniel Béland noted that Rousseau’s failure to fulfill this promise, combined with his substantial compensation package, damaged his public standing.
Canada’s Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon thanked Rousseau for his decision and pledged continued government collaboration with Air Canada to ensure the airline provides safe, reliable, affordable, and bilingual service. Some critics, including former Conservative Cabinet minister Jason Kenney, argued that the CEO’s focus should prioritize safety and reliability over language training.
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