Air Canada Chief Executive Michael Rousseau will step down from his position by the end of the third quarter following intense criticism over his English-only condolence message addressing last week’s fatal collision at LaGuardia Airport. The announcement comes after mounting pressure from Canadian political leaders and public outrage regarding Rousseau’s inability to deliver his message in French, one of Canada’s official languages.
The controversy emerged when Rousseau, an anglophone who resides in Montreal, expressed condolences exclusively in English for the deaths of pilots Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther. Forest was a native of French-speaking Quebec, amplifying the sensitivity around language representation. Despite English and French subtitles accompanying the video posted on social media platform X, the absence of spoken French drew immediate condemnation.
Prime Minister Mark Carney characterized the message as demonstrating ‘a lack of compassion,’ while Quebec Premier François Legault explicitly called for Rousseau’s resignation if he could not communicate in French. The CEO was subsequently summoned to appear before Canada’s parliamentary committee on Official Languages to explain his actions.
In a written apology issued in both official languages, Rousseau expressed deep regret that his language limitations had ‘diverted attention’ from the grieving families and affected Air Canada staff. He acknowledged ongoing efforts to improve his French through lessons, though he admitted his proficiency remained inadequate despite years of study.
Air Canada’s statement highlighted Rousseau’s ‘nearly two decades of strong and dedicated leadership’ with the carrier, which began as a federal public corporation and has been privately operated since 1988. The airline remains subject to Canada’s Official Languages Act, requiring all onboard announcements to be delivered in both English and French.
Rousseau, who faced similar criticism upon his appointment as CEO in 2021, stated: ‘It has been my great honour to work with the dedicated and talented people of Air Canada and to represent our outstanding organization.’ He committed to supporting the company through the transition period before his retirement.