CAQ leadership candidates Christine Fréchette and Bernard Drainville welcomed Monday’s announcement of the retirement of Air Canada’s unilingual CEO, Michael Rousseau.
“It was the only sensible thing to do,” Drainville immediately responded on the X network. “The next CEO of Air Canada must speak French. It’s a matter of respect.”
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Fréchette also asked the Air Canada board of directors to appoint a new bilingual CEO.
“The company is subject to the Official Languages Act,” she emphasized. “It’s time that this was reflected at the highest levels of the company.”
“This is the only credible decision that respects Francophones, Quebecers and the National Assembly, and the only one that would finally send the signal that things are changing,” she added.
In Ottawa, Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon made a point of thanking Rousseau for his years of service.
He also praised “its contribution to maintaining Canada’s position as a leader in international air transport.”
“The government (…) will continue to work closely with Air Canada’s management and board to ensure that the company provides safe, reliable, affordable and bilingual service to all Canadians,” he said.
Early Monday morning, Air Canada’s board of directors announced in a press release that Michael Rousseau had informed them of his decision to retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026.
Several politicians were calling for Rousseau’s head after the recording of a condolence video in which he could only be heard saying “hello” and “thank you” in French.
He was reacting to the accident that occurred a week ago on the tarmac of LaGuardia Airport in New York, in which two pilots – including one from Quebec – were killed.
Michael Rousseau had also received rebukes from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who criticized him for his “lack of judgment and compassion”.
The executive had also been summoned before the Official Languages Committee, since, even though it was privatized in 1988, Air Canada remains subject to the Official Languages Act.
The CEO of Air Canada had apologized in writing, but he admitted that, despite his efforts, he remained unable to express himself adequately in French.
– With information from Mathieu Paquette in Montreal
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
