BURST
Air Canada’s chief executive, Michael Rousseau, is facing political backlash for speaking only in English in an update following the fatal crash of an Air Canada Express flight in New York.
Members of the House of Commons Official Languages Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to summon Rousseau to testify. The motion calls for his appearance by May 1. Several MPs expressed their indignation at what they described as a failure to respect Canada’s bilingual character.
Rousseau appeared in a video message released Monday, a day after the crash at LaGuardia Airport, in which he said he was “deeply saddened” by the deaths of two pilots. The video, which ran about three minutes and 45 seconds, was delivered in English — aside from a “bonjour” at the beginning and “merci” at the end. Subtitles, however, were provided in both languages.
Michael Rousseau, président et chef de la direction d'Air Canada, fait une déclaration vidéo au sujet du tragique accident impliquant le vol Air Canada Express AC8646: pic.twitter.com/v9zbLH3g62
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 23, 2026
The crash had occurred Sunday night when a Jazz Aviation aircraft operating as an Air Canada Express flight from Montreal collided with a fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport. More than 40 passengers and crew members were injured. The two pilots were killed.
Earlier Tuesday, federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon called the video message unacceptable, stressing that Air Canada has a legal obligation to communicate in both official languages under the Official Languages Act.
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, meanwhile, said it called into question Rousseau’s leadership.
“In light of this sad and gross lack of respect towards the relatives and family of the pilot from Coteau-du-Lac, Antoine Forest, a French-speaking Quebecer, the head of Air Canada must seriously consider whether he has clearly disqualified himself from the position he holds,” he said.
The political reaction also extended to Quebec City, where Jean-François Roberge, Quebec’s minister of the French language, described the message as “contemptuous” and “unacceptable.”
Air Canada since defended its chief executive, saying Rousseau still does not have sufficient fluency in French to deliver a message of that sensitivity.
“His ability to speak French does not allow him to convey such a sensitive message in that language as he would like,” the airline’s vice-president of communications told Le Devoir.
In 2021, Rousseau faced criticism after he gave a speech in Montreal mostly in English . That time, he pledged to improve his French.
He was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada in February 2021.
Air Canada has yet to comment on Rousseau being summoned to testify.
With files from the Canadian Press