Carney Criticizes Air Canada CEO’s Unilingual Condolence Message After New York Crash
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has publicly criticized Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau for issuing a condolence message in English only following Sunday’s deadly collision at LaGuardia Airport in New York. The incident, involving an Air Canada Express flight and a fire truck, resulted in the deaths of both pilots and sent over 40 people to hospital.
Rousseau delivered a four-minute video message expressing condolences, but it contained only two French words – “bonjour” and “merci” – sparking widespread criticism. He is now being summoned to testify before the House of Commons official languages committee.
Bilingualism and National Identity
Carney emphasized Canada’s bilingual nature, stating, “We proudly live in a bilingual country and companies like Air Canada particularly have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages, regardless of the situation.” He expressed his “extreme disappointment” with Rousseau’s message, characterizing it as a “lack of compassion” and a “lack of judgment.” CBC News reported on Carney’s remarks.
The crash claimed the lives of Antoine Forest, a French-speaking pilot from Quebec, and Mackenzie Gunther. Forest’s Quebecois identity has amplified the controversy, as Air Canada is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, where French is the primary language. The Associated Press noted that the issue of Quebec’s identity has been a point of contention since the British takeover of New France in 1760, with approximately 80% of the province’s population being French-speaking.
Official Response and Public Complaints
The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages has received over 80 complaints regarding Rousseau’s video, according to Narcity. Marc Miller, Canada’s Minister of Identity and Culture, acknowledged the tragedy but stated Rousseau “should know” to speak French, as he had been previously advised to do so. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly added that the message lacked empathy, particularly given that many victims and their families are French-speaking, calling it “a question of moral leadership.”
Air Canada has not yet issued a formal response to the criticism.
Ongoing Investigation
Prime Minister Carney indicated that Canadian authorities are collaborating with their American counterparts to investigate the cause of the accident.