The Canadian Commissioner of Official Languages is criticizing the departing CEO of Air Canada for a message of condolence predominantly in English following a fatal plane crash in New York earlier this year. The commissioner’s annual report indicates a significant number of complaints were received after Michael Rousseau released a video lasting four minutes, containing only two French words — “bonjour” and “merci.”
Kelly Burke, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, highlighted the public’s strong reaction to the video, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding both official languages in Canada. The complaints are currently under investigation.
Burke stressed the importance of bilingualism for leaders across various sectors, citing Rousseau’s video message in response to the tragic collision involving an Air Canada regional jet in New York, which resulted in two pilot fatalities and multiple injuries.
Antoine Forest from Quebec and Mackenzie Gunther from Ontario were the pilots tragically killed in the incident. The report emphasized the necessity for leaders to address the public equally in both official languages during crises, rather than solely relying on interpreters or subtitles.
Following the release of Rousseau’s video, Air Canada’s board announced his retirement by the end of the third quarter of 2026 and outlined criteria for his successor, including proficiency in French. The Commissioner’s office disclosed receiving a total of 2,425 complaints regarding the video, including 98 after the end of the fiscal year on March 31.
Burke’s comprehensive 31-page report also raised concerns about potential impacts of federal budget cuts on the government’s language obligations and minority language communities. The report highlighted the government’s commitment to reducing the public service size through attrition and outlined substantial budget cuts and efficiency measures planned over the next five years.
The report commended positive developments such as additional funding for CBC/Radio-Canada and a Supreme Court ruling in support of bilingualism in New Brunswick. It also discussed the potential of artificial intelligence in promoting bilingualism and language learning, while cautioning about language biases and errors inherent in AI systems.
The Commissioner recommended integrating official languages into the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s artificial intelligence strategy by March 2027 to ensure systematic consideration in the development and implementation of AI tools across the public service.
