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 annual report from the commissioner’s office reveals a surge in complaints after Michael Rousseau released a video lasting four minutes, containing only two French words – “bonjour” and “merci.”
Kelly Burke, addressing reporters in Ottawa, emphasized the significance of both official languages to the Canadian public. She highlighted ongoing investigations into the complaints, asserting the importance of bilingualism for leaders across various sectors.
Rousseau’s video message followed an incident where an Air Canada regional jet departing from Montreal collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York on March 22, resulting in the deaths of two pilots and multiple injuries.
The report highlighted the necessity for leaders to communicate equally in both official languages during crises, rather than relying solely on interpreters or subtitles. Subsequently, Air Canada’s board announced Rousseau’s retirement by the end of the third quarter of 2026, considering fluency in French as a key criterion for his successor.
The commissioner’s office disclosed receiving 2,425 complaints regarding the video, including 98 post the end of the fiscal year on March 31. Additionally, the report touched on concerns over potential impacts of federal budget cuts on language obligations and minority language communities.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s commitment to downsizing the public service through attrition was mentioned. The report expressed a cautious approach towards assessing the effects of the 2025 federal budget, aimed at significant savings over five years through budget cuts and efficiency measures.
Moreover, positive developments such as $150 million in additional funding for CBC/Radio-Canada and a Supreme Court ruling mandating bilingualism for New Brunswick’s lieutenant-governor were highlighted. The report also discussed the potential of artificial intelligence in translation, interpretation, bilingualism promotion, and language learning, cautioning against language bias in AI favoring English.
The commissioner recommended the integration of official languages into the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s artificial intelligence strategy by March 2027 for systematic inclusion in the development and use of AI across the public service.
