Summary
The CEO of Air Canada, Michael Rousseau, plans to retire later this year after criticism over his English-only condolence message addressing a fatal accident. Rousseau received backlash for not speaking French in a video after a deadly crash involving two Air Canada pilots. His retirement announcement follows calls to step down, particularly from Canada’s French-speaking community.
Key Facts
- Michael Rousseau is the CEO of Air Canada, headquartered in Montreal.
- Rousseau announced his retirement, effective by the end of the third quarter.
- He faced criticism for delivering condolences in English only after an accident at LaGuardia Airport.
- The crash killed two Air Canada pilots, including one from French-speaking Quebec.
- Rousseau apologized for his limited French, despite past language lessons.
- Canadian politicians, including Quebec's Premier and Prime Minister Mark Carney, criticized Rousseau.
- Air Canada follows the Official Languages Act, requiring communication in both English and French.
- Rousseau had previously apologized for his French skills when he became CEO in 2021.
