CEO of Air Canada to step down due to language backlash

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter, the airline announced following intense backlash over his English-only condolence message for the recent fatal crash at LaGuardia Airport.

The tragedy claimed the lives of both pilots. One of them, Antoine Forest, was from the Canadian province of Quebec, where 80% of residents speak French.

Rousseau’s decision to address the public solely in English—relying on subtitles—received intense criticism from the public and Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said it lacked compassion. He also noted that the airline’s next leader must be bilingual.

Given that Air Canada is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec Premier François Legault also insisted that French proficiency be a non-negotiable requirement for the successor.

Following the announcement, Air Canada shares declined over 2% on the Toronto Stock Exchange.