The Canadian Commissioner of Official Languages has criticized the departing CEO of Air Canada for delivering a condolence message predominantly in English following a fatal plane crash in New York earlier this year. The commissioner’s annual report reveals a significant influx of complaints after Michael Rousseau released a video with just two French words, “bonjour” and “merci.”
Kelly Burke, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, emphasized the public’s strong reaction and the importance of safeguarding both official languages in Canada. The complaints regarding Rousseau’s video are currently being investigated.
Burke emphasized the necessity of bilingualism for leaders across various sectors, citing Rousseau’s video response to the tragic collision involving an Air Canada regional jet and a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport, resulting in two pilot fatalities and multiple injuries.
The report highlighted the significance of leaders communicating in both official languages during crises, rather than relying solely on interpreters or subtitles. Following the controversy surrounding Rousseau’s video, Air Canada’s board announced his impending retirement by the end of the third quarter of 2026, with French language proficiency being a key criterion for his successor.
The Commissioner’s office received a total of 2,425 complaints regarding the video, with 98 additional complaints received after the end of the fiscal year on March 31.
Burke’s comprehensive 31-page report also addressed concerns about potential impacts of federal budget cuts on language obligations and minority language communities. The report expressed vigilance towards Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to reduce the public service’s size primarily through attrition, awaiting the unfolding effects of the 2025 federal budget’s cost-saving initiatives.
Positive developments noted in the report included increased funding for CBC/Radio-Canada and a Supreme Court ruling affirming the bilingual requirement for New Brunswick’s lieutenant-governor. The report also discussed the potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing bilingualism and language learning, despite its current biases towards English.
Burke recommended that the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat integrate official languages into its artificial intelligence strategy and related documents by March 2027 to ensure their systematic consideration in AI tool development and implementation across the public service.