Rousseau’s retirement announcement follows a wave of criticism after he issued an English-only condolence message related to the fatal incident. The lack of a French translation in his message sparked outrage among many, including Quebec lawmakers and Prime Minister François Legault, who described the message as lacking compassion. The Prime Minister emphasized that the next CEO must be fluent in French as a matter of respect.

In response to the criticism, Rousseau issued an apology, stating, “I sincerely apologize for this, but I am continuing my efforts to improve.” He acknowledged his struggles with the French language, admitting, “I am still unable to express myself adequately in French.” This has been a recurring issue for Rousseau, who has lived in Montreal for 14 years but has faced scrutiny for not being fluent in both of Canada’s official languages.

The collision that triggered the backlash killed two pilots, prompting over 2,000 complaints to the office of the commissioner of official languages regarding Rousseau’s message. Observers noted that the video tribute he released included only two French words: “bonjour” and “merci,” which many found insufficient given the circumstances.

Rousseau’s language skills have been a point of contention since he took on the role of CEO. He previously faced criticism in 2021 for delivering a speech that was almost entirely in English. This ongoing issue has led to calls for his resignation from various Quebec lawmakers, who argue that the leader of a major Canadian airline should reflect the bilingual nature of the country.

Mark Carney, a prominent figure in Canadian finance, expressed his disappointment over Rousseau’s unilingual message, stating, “I am very disappointed, as others are, rightly so, in this unilingual message.” This sentiment has been echoed by many who believe that effective communication in both English and French is essential for the role of CEO at Air Canada.

The wider picture

As Air Canada prepares for a leadership transition, the focus will likely shift to finding a successor who can meet the bilingual expectations of the role. The airline is required to provide services in both English and French under Canada’s Official Languages Act, making it imperative for the next CEO to be fluent in both languages. Observers anticipate that this leadership change could signal a new era for Air Canada, one that prioritizes effective communication and respect for Canada’s linguistic diversity.

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