(Ottawa) The President and CEO of Air Canada spoke a few sentences in French at the start of his testimony before the Official Languages Committee of the House of Commons on Monday afternoon. He again made an act of contrition for the controversy he had raised in November by delivering a speech almost exclusively in English before the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
Posted at 4:20 p.m.
” I am sorry. I apologize again here. I regret my words, ”he said at the start of his testimony in laborious French. He also said he regretted the impact his remarks had on Air Canada employees.
The boss of the air carrier follows intensive courses daily to learn to express himself in French. However, he admitted that his mastery of the language is not yet up to the efforts he says he puts into it. He also answered questions from elected officials in English.
Michael Rousseau had unleashed a linguistic storm in November by delivering a speech in English in Montreal despite warnings from a member of François Legault’s cabinet in Quebec and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages in Ottawa. Only a few sentences in French had been added.
Mr. Rousseau had subsequently told journalists that he had lived in the metropolis for 14 years without having had to learn French, which was “to the credit” of the city.
The Commissioner of Official Languages had received more than 2,000 complaints, a record number, following this controversy.
The government has since agreed to give it the power to impose penalties on Air Canada of up to $25,000 under Bill C-13 to strengthen Official Languages Act. This power would also be extended to VIA Rail and Marine Atlantic and to all airport authorities.
The bill tabled on 1er March has not yet passed second reading in the House of Commons.