In the midst of a linguistic controversy, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau begins to learn French. In a letter sent to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Air Canada board chairman Vagn Sorensen said Mr. Rousseau had just started “intensive French learning”.
“This is not just a personal commitment on his part, but something that will be an integral part of his performance review, in accordance with annual reviews conducted by the Board. He can count on our support as he begins this important journey for him and on that of his team of senior executives, all five of whom are Francophones or speak French, ”added Mr. Sorensen.
“We take our responsibilities with regard to the Official Languages Act very seriously,” he added, periodically reviewing compliance with laws and regulations.
“We will include your recommendation for a review of company-wide policies and practices for the use of French at the next Governance Committee meeting,” he wrote to Minister Freeland.
The minister had previously written to the board of directors asking it to act on this matter. She also asked that knowledge of French be an important criterion in promotions.
Mr. Rousseau also sent a letter to Air Canada employees to reiterate his desire to learn French. “I reiterate my sincerest apologies, particularly to my colleagues, for not showing more sensitivity to the importance of speaking French in Quebec,” he said.
A demonstration this Saturday
A demonstration in defense of French is being organized for next Saturday, in front of Air Canada’s head office in Montreal. The organizers thus wish to put pressure on the board of directors of Air Canada, which does not respect, according to them, its own linguistic action plan on the promotion of the two official languages within the company.
“We are going to Air Canada to remind them that they have not respected their own 2020-2023 linguistic action plan which stipulates that” Air Canada is proud to provide services in both official languages and demonstrates real leadership among large Canadian companies in the promotion of bilingualism ”, explained in an interview Tuesday Marie-Anne Alepin, president of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal.
Ms. Alepin says she is not personally targeting Air Canada President Michael Rousseau, who spoke only in English to the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, in addition to asserting that in 14 years in Montreal, he still had could live without learning French and that he did not have the time to learn it. She says she is targeting the board of directors of Air Canada, which pays so little attention to the presence of French within the company.
Ms. Alepin also said she was “very happy” that Mr. Rousseau started French lessons. But, according to her, this does not change the fact that “French is receding” and that this was yet another illustrative example.
The demonstration, organized by the Montreal SSJB, will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. in front of Air Canada’s head office, on Côte-Vertu in Montreal. Buses are also planned from the SSJB offices in downtown Montreal, as well as in Longueuil. Information is available on the organization’s website.