Air Canada CEO summoned to Ottawa over English-only condolence video for LaGuardia crash

The head of Canada's largest airline has been summoned to Ottawa to explain why he spoke only in English when he offered his condolences to the families of those killed or hurt in the collision between a plane and a fire truck at a New York City airport on Sunday.

The Official Languages ​​Committee voted on Tuesday afternoon to call Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau to the capital to answer for a four-minute online video in which he spoke only two words in French.

"The ten elected members of the committee unanimously adopted a motion to ask the CEO of Air Canada to come and explain himself," the committee said in a statement.

The airline posted Rousseau's video message after Air ⁠Canada Express Flight 8646 hit a fire truck on the runway of LaGuardia Airport late Sunday. The crash killed both pilots, one of whom was from Quebec, and sent more than 40 people to hospital.

In his message, Rousseau said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and said the collision was a "very dark day" for Air Canada.

The video message was delivered in English with French subtitles, aside from Rousseau saying "bonjour" at the beginning and "merci" at the end.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Commissioner of Official Languages had received 84 complaints about the video. Several politicians complained publicly.

“In light of this sad and gross lack of respect towards the loved ones and family of the pilot from Coteau-du-Lac, Antoine Forest, a French-speaking Quebecer, the head of Air Canada must very seriously ask himself whether he has not clearly disqualified himself for the position he holds,” Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet wrote in an online post.

In a statement late Tuesday, Air Canada said Rousseau chose to speak in English to ensure his message was received as clearly as possible given the emotional circumstances.

"Mr. Rousseau felt it was important to personally address our customers, our employees, and those of Jazz, their families, and all those affected in any way. He therefore recorded a message before leaving for the crash site," the statement read.

"Despite his efforts, his ability to speak French does not allow him to convey such a sensitive message as effectively as he would have liked in that language. We have therefore used subtitles to ensure everyone can receive his message directly."

The statement added that any information about the collision Rousseau gave in the video was also posted online in both official languages.

Four years ago, Rousseau was summoned to Ottawa over another set of remarks made only in English. The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages received more than 2,600 complaints after Rousseau spoke only about 20 seconds of French in a 26-minute speech, before telling reporters he didn't need to learn French in order to live in Montreal for 14 years.

Rousseau later apologized and said he had started taking French lessons.