Air Canada CEO sparks anger with statement on living in Montreal 'without speaking French'
CBC
When Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau was asked in French how he managed to live in Quebec's largest city for 14 years without speaking French, Rousseau paused and requested the question be posed in English.
In a 26-minute speech at the Palais des congrès in Montreal moments before, Rousseau only spoke French for about 20 seconds. While his understanding of the language is "fair," he struggles to speak it, he said.
The ordeal prompted swift criticism from federal and provincial politicians as well as several Quebec commentators.
Many pointed out that Air Canada is subjected to the Official Languages Act and must therefore serve customers in English and French, depending on the customer's preference.
Montreal's Chamber of Commerce had invited Rousseau to speak about Air Canada's recovery after the pandemic. It was his first major speech since he was appointed CEO of the company, which used to be a Crown corporation, in February. He had held various roles in the company's executive suite since 2007.
After the speech, Rousseau was asked in French by a journalist for Quebec TV news channel LCN how he's managed to live in Montreal for so long despite speaking a French that is "approximate."
Rousseau paused and said: "Can you redo that in English? Because I want to make sure I understand your question before I respond to it."
The journalist said he preferred Rousseau's press attaché translate the question to him, but she replied that he addressed it in his speech.
Eventually, the journalist posed the question in English, saying, "How can you live in Montreal without speaking French? Is it easy?"
Rousseau paused again.
"I've been able to live in Montreal without speaking French, and I think that's a testament to the city of Montreal," Rousseau said.
He was also asked why he hadn't made a commitment to learn French, responding that, "If you look at my work schedule, you'd understand why."
Michel Leblanc, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, said he was disappointed that Rousseau's speech contained very little French, "and that the CEO of Air Canada did not publicly declare that his intention was to learn French."
Raymond Théberge, Canada's Commissioner of Official Languages, said he hopes Rousseau will make a commitment to do so.
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