Premier François Legault has called for the resignation of Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau, saying the English-only condolences he offered following the fatal collision at New York’s LaGuardia airport showed a lack of respect toward French-speaking employees and clients.
Legault’s comments come as the head of Canada’s largest airline has been summoned to Ottawa to explain why he spoke only in English in a video address earlier this week.
During the four-minute video posted online, he spoke only two words in French: “Bonjour” and “Merci.”
In an email to Radio-Canada, the Commissioner of Official Languages confirmed it has recieved a total of 561 complaints concerning Rousseau’s video message.
The collision between the Air Canada plane and an emergency vehicle killed both pilots, one of whom was from Quebec, and sent more than 40 people to hospital.
“If he still doesn’t speak French, it’s a lack of respect,” Legault said Wednesday, referring to Rousseau’s commitment in 2021 to learn French.
Quebec’s Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette said it’s unacceptable.
“It’s not the first time, it’s not the second time, it’s the minimum the third time. Game over,” he said, in English, to reporters at the National Assembly.
Four years ago, Rousseau was summoned to Ottawa over another set of remarks made only in English.
Jean-François Roberge, Quebec’s minister for the French language, says Rousseau should apologize.
“From now on, he has to say that he will respect Quebecers and French-speaking Canada,” he said Wednesday.
