The Air Canada plane, which originated in Montreal, was trying to land in New York on the evening of 22 March before it crashed into an emergency vehicle, killing the two pilots and injuring dozens of passengers.
It was the first fatal crash for Air Canada in more than four decades.
A day later, Air Canada shared a four-minute video message from Rousseau on its social media. In it, Rousseau acknowledged that it was a “somber day” for his organisation. He also offered his condolences to the airline’s staff and family of the victims in English, with subtitles in both official languages.
Almost immediately, Canada’s official languages commissioner reportedly received dozens of complaints. By that afternoon, a parliamentary committee had unanimously voted to summon the CEO “to come and explain himself”.
Quebec politicians accused Rousseau of showing a “gross lack of respect” to the Quebecois family of one of the deceased pilots, Antoine Forest.
And lawmakers also passed a non-binding vote in the province’s legislature calling on the CEO to resign.
Canadian author Jack Jedwab wrote in French language newspaper La Presse, external that Rousseau’s lack of French knowledge sends a message to Air Canada employees that “bilingualism is a constraint, not a value”.
“He is not suitable to be (the airline’s) spokesperson,” Jedwab wrote.
Three days after that initial video message caused a storm, the airline released an apology from Rousseau, in which he said he was “deeply saddened” that it had taken attention away from those who are grieving.
He also admitted that after years of lessons, his French language ability remains weak.
A few days later, Air Canada announced that Rousseau, who is 68, will be retiring by September.
An airline spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that the CEO “has reached a natural retirement age” and that his decision is not linked to the language issue.
Many, however, questioned the timing.