Faced with a wave of indignation because of his unilingualism, the big boss of Air Canada, Michael Rousseau, apologized and pledged to improve his French, Thursday morning.
“I want to clarify that I did not want in any way to disrespect Quebeckers and Francophones across the country. I apologize to those who were offended by my words. Today I am committed to improving my French, the official language of Canada and the language used in Quebec, ”he wrote in a press release.
The day before, the president and CEO of Air Canada had congratulated himself on being able to live in Montreal, in English only, for 14 years.
His declaration, like his refusal to learn French, make him “unworthy of his duties,” Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette reacted on Thursday, while two of the three opposition parties in Quebec demanded the resignation of the big boss of the air carrier.
“Yesterday, he came to insult and despise all Quebecers. He must apologize, Air Canada must apologize and [M. Rousseau] must think deeply about the role he occupies in that company. It is unworthy of his duties, ”said Mr. Jolin-Barrette, who is responsible for the French language file.
From Glasgow, where he is for COP26, Prime Minister François Legault also lambasted Air Canada’s top executive. “I watched Mr. Rousseau’s video and I find it insulting, it makes me angry, his attitude, to say that he’s been in Quebec for 14 years and he didn’t need to learn French. It’s unspeakable, it shocks me, ”he said.
On the one hand, this denotes a lack of respect for the French-speaking employees of Air Canada, and on the other hand, there is a “job to be done by all Quebecers to demand that they be served in French,” continued Mr. Legault.
In the National Assembly, Mr. Rousseau’s words and attitude were unanimously criticized. Québec solidaire and the Liberal Party of Quebec have called for his resignation. The Parti Québécois demanded an apology and demanded that Air Canada be henceforth subject to the Charter of the French language.
With The Canadian Press
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