Speech in English | Michael Rousseau targeted by 200 complaints

Complaints are piling up at the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages ​​over the speech almost exclusively in English given by Air Canada boss Michael Rousseau before the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal on Wednesday.

Mylène Crête
Press

Commissioner Raymond Théberge and his team will have to analyze more than 200 complaints over the next few days. “This is an indication of how keen the reaction has been,” he said in an interview. That’s a lot for a single incident. ”

He will have to determine whether they are admissible under the Official Languages ​​Act. They could well be, according to him, under section 4 of this legislation on the communication of federal institutions with the public.

Air Canada has a bad reputation for providing services in French. From 2016 to today, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages ​​received 431 complaints, including 160 only in 2019. This high number is a sign of “a systemic problem” within the air carrier, according to Mr. Théberge.

“The fact of giving a speech only in English and the fact of not learning French demonstrate a lack of sensitivity,” he noted. The example comes from above and if the example is a disrespect towards Francophones, the message will be felt within his organization. ”

The requirement for bilingualism has disappeared with Air Canada’s regional partner, Jazz Aviation. A job posting found on the company’s website on Thursday specifies that flight attendants must now “speak fluent English,” but that they are not required to be fluent in French. “Although bilingualism (English and French) is preferable, it is no longer necessary to speak French”, we read.

The positions are located in Toronto, but it is indicated that the agents are called upon to travel to several major cities across the country, including Montreal.

“There must be consequences”

This adds to the controversy raised the day before by the president and CEO of Air Canada, who said on the sidelines of his speech that he had been able to live in Montreal for 14 years without learning French. His remarks aroused the anger of the political class in Quebec and in Ottawa.

They were “simply unacceptable”, according to the Minister of Official Languages, Ginette Petitpas Taylor. “I have taken note of his apologies, but they must be followed by concrete actions to demonstrate that he takes his obligations seriously,” she said in a written statement. It’s a matter of respect. ”

Minister Petitpas reiterated the government’s commitment to reform the Official Languages ​​Act without specifying a timeline. The bill was first introduced in June a week before the end of parliamentary proceedings and two months before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called an election.

This first version gave the Commissioner the power to enter into binding agreements and to issue orders that have legal effect. Currently, it must be satisfied with investigating and issuing recommendations.

The Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party demanded Thursday the resignation of Michael Rousseau, in office since last April. “Air Canada accumulates disrespect for French, it is always an apology and there is no action,” said Bloc member Mario Beaulieu. There must be consequences. He recalled that the federal government was a shareholder in Air Canada.

“After years of damning reports from the Commissioner of Official Languages, dozens and dozens of complaints on average each year, we must send a clear message to Air Canada: that’s enough, you cannot continue like that to despise French “, Supported NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice.

The Conservative Party did not go so far as to demand the departure of Michael Rousseau. The deputy Alain Rayes rather asked that we give more “bite” to the Official Languages ​​Act and that it be a priority for the resumption of parliamentary work on 22 November. “Its modernization is imperative, quickly,” he wrote on Twitter. Despite fine words, the Liberals have done nothing since 2015. ”