QUEBEC \u2014 The National Assembly has voted in favour of a motion calling for the resignation of Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau, saying his inability to speak French shows a lack of respect for francophones all over Canada.<\/p>\n
Dismissing a formal apology issued by Rousseau on Thursday as \u201ctoo little, too late,\u201d MNAs supported the motion pitched by the Coalition Avenir Qu\u00e9bec government\u2019s minister of the French language, Jean-Fran\u00e7ois Roberge.<\/p>\n
The vote was 92 in favour, none against. One MNA, Youri Chassin, the independent for the riding of Saint-J\u00e9r\u00f4me, abstained.<\/p>\n
All the CAQ MNAs present voted in favour, along with MNAs from the Liberals, Qu\u00e9bec solidaire and Parti Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois. The PQ\u2019s votes in favour came as a surprise; earlier in the day, the party said it might abstain because the motion would change nothing.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Rousseau shared an English-only message of condolences in the wake of Sunday night\u2019s LaGuardia Airport runway collision<\/a> between an Air Canada Express flight from Montreal, operated by Jazz Aviation, and an airport fire truck. Two pilots, Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther<\/a>, died in the crash in New York.<\/p>\n Thursday\u2019s motion states the National Assembly \u201cfirmly denounces the lack of respect of Air Canada\u2019s CEO toward the French language, Quebec families in mourning and all the francophones in the federation.\u201d<\/p>\n It says this was not Rousseau\u2019s first \u201cinsult\u201d in terms of language matters, and notes that French is the only official language of Quebec.<\/p>\n It adds: \u201cThe National Assembly calls for the resignation of Michael Rousseau as CEO of Air Canada,\u201d and demands the next CEO possess a sufficient mastery of the French language.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Air Canada again attempted to put a lid on the controversy, with Rousseau issuing an apology for his unilingual condolence video.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to reiterate my deepest condolences to the families of the Jazz captain and first officer who tragically lost their lives, and recognize the profound impact this accident has had on our employees and customers,\u201d Rousseau said.<\/p>\n \u201cAir Canada is co-operating fully with U.S. and Canadian authorities in the investigation,\u201d he said in a written statement published early Thursday in English and French<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAs president and chief executive officer of Air Canada, it is my duty to support those affected by this tragedy. I am deeply saddened that my inability to speak French has diverted attention from the profound grief of the families and the great resilience of Air Canada\u2019s employees, who have demonstrated outstanding professionalism despite the events of the past few days.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite many lessons over several years, unfortunately, I am still unable to express myself adequately in French. I sincerely apologize for this, but I am continuing my efforts to improve.\u201d<\/p>\n Rousseau\u2019s apology came after the English-only statement of condolences he issued Monday following the crash that killed Forest, a francophone from Coteau-du-Lac, and co-pilot Gunther of Ontario.<\/p>\n Air Canada is subject to the provisions of Canada\u2019s Official Languages Act. Rousseau\u2019s unilingual statement drew criticism<\/a> from Prime Minister Mark Carney, who described it as exhibiting a \u201clack of judgment, a lack of compassion.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the federal official languages committee voted to summon Rousseau to Ottawa<\/a>, where MPs will question what several have described as his failure to respect official bilingualism.<\/p>\n As of Wednesday at 1 p.m., the commissioner of official languages had received 795 complaints about Rousseau\u2019s video. By 8:30 a.m. Thursday, the number had risen to 1,565.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Rousseau\u2019s apology fell on deaf ears in the Quebec legislature.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not enough,\u201d Roberge said as he arrived for question period. \u201cMichael Rousseau must resign. It\u2019s the only honourable thing left for him to do. After all these years when he failed to learn French, he didn\u2019t even have the decency to read a statement in French that someone else wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it comes to sensitivity, he\u2019s a repeat offender.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked whether Ottawa is doing enough to encourage the departure of Rousseau, Roberge said clearly not.<\/p>\n \u201cI think (Carney) needs to take a further step,\u201d Roberge said.<\/p>\n \u201cMichael Rousseau\u2019s crocodile tears impress nobody,\u201d added CAQ house leader Simon Jolin-Barrette.<\/p>\n He said he expects the two francophone members of Air Canada\u2019s board of directors, Jean Marc Huot and Madeleine Paquin, to speak out.<\/p>\n Employment Minister Pascale D\u00e9ry, who used to be Air Canada\u2019s director of media relations under Rousseau\u2019s leadership, had harsh words, calling on the airline\u2019s board of directors to act.<\/p>\n \u201cWe went through this same crisis five years ago,\u201d D\u00e9ry told reporters. \u201cHe promised to learn French. He did not do it. I think today the question is not asking ourselves whether he will learn French or not. I think he just doesn\u2019t want to learn French \u2014 that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n The opposition parties were all on board with the CAQ\u2019s motion.<\/p>\n One day after Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard deplored the Rousseau video but did not go so far as to ask for Rousseau to step down, the party shifted positions and now called for the resignation.<\/p>\n Liberal house leader Marc Tanguay said the party changed its view after examining Rousseau\u2019s apology, which it said was not good enough.<\/p>\n Noting that as a francophone he personally makes efforts to speak to the media in his second language, Tanguay said Rousseau has not evolved in any way.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is unable to justify his incapacity (to speak French),\u201d Tanguay told reporters. \u201cEnough is enough. He must resign.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think Mr. Rousseau has been given many chances,\u201d added Qu\u00e9bec solidaire house leader Guillaume Cliche-Rivard. \u201cFor me, (the apology is) too little, too late. He\u2019s not showing respect.\u201d<\/p>\n Thursday morning, PQ MNA Jo\u00ebl Arseneau suggested his party would abstain from the vote on the motion calling for Rousseau to resign because all the indignation will change nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to stop playing in this same movie rerun,\u201d Arseneau said.<\/p>\n But later, perhaps because Roberge criticized them, the PQ MNAs shifted gears and voted in favour.<\/p>\n Rousseau has found himself in the middle of language controversies before. In November 2021, he delivered an address to Montreal\u2019s business community<\/a> that contained around 20 seconds of French.<\/p>\n Following the speech, a reporter asked Rousseau how he could have lived in Montreal for 14 years without speaking French.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you redo that in English?\u201d Rousseau replied.<\/p>\n The reporter then translated his question, to which Rousseau responded that his ability to live in the city without speaking French was \u201ca testament to the city of Montreal.\u201d<\/p>\n