Defending its CEO, Michael Rousseau, who gave a speech in English only to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal last November, Air Canada asked the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada to dismiss the numerous complaints that the arrogant unilingual had provoked. In a preliminary report, commissioner Raymond Théberge refused to give up.
This preliminary report, of which Radio-Canada obtained a copy, was given to the complainants. The Office of the Commissioner received 2,680 complaints following Michael Rousseau’s speech, a considerable number considering that the organization receives an average of 1,000 complaints a year for breaches of the Official Languages Act. In this regard, Air Canada still figures prominently among delinquent companies.
The carrier argued that the speech in front of an audience of business people in a Montreal hotel and in the presence of journalists was of a private nature, an absurd claim. The company also argued that the CEO’s comments had been misinterpreted. However, it is without ambiguity that he praised the merits of the Montreal region, where he was able to live for 14 years without having to speak French. Since then, Mr. Rousseau has found the time to take intensive French lessons and he was able to speak a few words in this obviously second language before the Standing Committee on Official Languages a few weeks ago. However, we believe that it is highly unlikely that this 61-year-old man will ever be able to carry on a real conversation in French. To assume that middle-aged English Canadians possess an exceptional gift that would enable them to learn a language they have scorned all their lives is a widespread hypocrisy throughout the federal administration.
In his report, Raymond Théberge writes that Air Canada has harmed the recognition of the French language and reduced its importance within Canadian society. There are recommendations, including the evaluation of the performance in French not only of the CEO, but of all the senior management of the company.
Right now, the Commissioner is a toothless watchdog. We will have to wait for the adoption of Bill C-32 to see its powers strengthened, which will authorize it, in particular, to issue orders to compel a company like Air Canada to comply with the law.
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