The CEO of Air Canada will retire later this year after facing criticism for failing to speak French in a condolence video following last week's fatal collision at LaGuardia Airport that claimed the lives of two pilots.
Michael Rousseau informed the airline of his decision to step down by the end of the company's third quarter, Air Canada announced in a statement on Monday.
Rousseau received backlash after delivering his condolences exclusively in English, even though one of the deceased pilots, Antoine Forest, hailed from French-speaking Quebec.
Subsequently, he apologized, admitting he was unable to express himself adequately in French—an official language in Canada—despite having taken lessons over the years.
“It has been my great honour to work with the dedicated and talented people of Air Canada and to represent our outstanding organisation," Rousseau stated. He expressed his commitment to support the company during the transition period.
Air Canada emphasized Rousseau's departure comes after nearly two decades of strong leadership, during which he was subject to scrutiny for his French language proficiency. His English-only condolence video was criticized by various Canadian politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, who remarked it showed a lack of compassion. Quebec Premier François Legault also stated Rousseau should resign if he could not speak French.
Rousseau's remarks in the condolence video expressed his deepest sorrow for all those affected, although failing to include a direct message in French drew immediate criticism. Initially, he was summoned by Canada's parliamentary committee on Official Languages to explain the oversight.
He later acknowledged causing a distraction from the grieving families due to his language struggles and vowed to continue improving his French skills.
Air Canada, a major player in Canada’s aviation sector, is required by law to operate in both English and French, reflective of the country's bilingual nature. Rousseau’s resignation highlights ongoing debates regarding linguistic proficiency in executive roles within Canadian companies.
