The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages is investigating Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau following a complaint about a video message delivered only in English. The video in question expressed condolences after a fatal accident at Toronto Pearson International Airport in April, where a vehicle struck a baggage cart, resulting in the death of a Swissport employee.
The complaint alleges that by communicating only in English, Air Canada failed to respect the official languages of Canada, violating the Official Languages Act. This act mandates that federal institutions, including Air Canada, provide services and communications in both English and French. Air Canada has stated that they are cooperating fully with the investigation.
This isn't the first time Rousseau's language skills have been under scrutiny. In 2021, he faced criticism for admitting he didn't speak French despite living in Montreal for over a decade. At the time, he pledged to improve his French, but this recent incident has renewed concerns about Air Canada's commitment to bilingualism. The investigation will likely focus on whether Air Canada took adequate measures to ensure communications are available in both official languages, particularly in sensitive situations like expressing condolences after a tragedy. The outcome could have implications for Air Canada's language policies and potentially lead to corrective measures to ensure compliance with the Official Languages Act.
The incident underscores the ongoing importance of linguistic duality in Canada and the expectations placed on major national institutions like Air Canada to reflect and respect both English and French languages. This investigation highlights the sensitivity surrounding language issues in Quebec and across Canada and serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the Official Languages Act.
