Air Canada CEO apologizes commits to learning French as backlash in Quebec grows

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau has apologized and committed to improving his French amid heavy backlash by federal and Quebec officials who called his recent comments about not needing to speak French despite having lived in Montreal for 14 years shocking and disrespectful.

"I want to clarify that I did not want in any way to disrespect [Quebecers] and francophones across the country. I apologize to those who were offended by my words," Rousseau said in a statement Thursday, following fiery criticism from officials hours earlier. 

He noted that he told journalists he would, in fact, like to be able to speak French. 

"Today, I am committed to improving my French, the official language of Canada and the language used in Quebec," he said. 

"The head office of this emblematic company is located in Montreal and it is a source of pride for me as for my entire management team. I reiterate Air Canada's commitment to show respect for French and, as a leader, I will set the tone."

On Wednesday, the CEO delivered a 26-minute speech at the Palais des congrès in Montreal, during which he only spoke French for about 20 seconds. After the speech, Rousseau was asked in French by a journalist for Quebec TV news channel LCN how he's managed to live in Montreal for so long despite speaking little French.

He was unable to answer the question and asked that it be posed in English. When pressed, he said despite living in Quebec for 14 years, he's too busy running a company to learn French.

"I've been able to live in Montreal without speaking French, and I think that's a testament to the city of Montreal," Rousseau said. 

WATCH | Air Canada CEO struggles to answer questions in French:

​Air Canada CEO ​struggles to answer questions in French in Montreal4 hours agoMichael Rousseau was asked in French by a journalist for Quebec TV news channel LCN how he's managed to live in Montreal for so long despite speaking little French. 1:38 'It's insulting,' premier says

Several elected officials in Quebec and Ottawa, including Canada's minister of official languages, have criticized Rousseau's initial comments.

On Thursday, Premier François Legault became the latest public figure to denounce Rousseau's attitude about the French language.

"It's insulting. It makes me angry, because [of] his attitude to say 'I have been in Quebec 14 years and I did not have to learn French,' " said Legault on the sidelines of the COP26 environmental summit in Scotland.

Quebec's minister for the French Language, Simon Jolin-Barrette, had said Rousseau showed "contempt for our language and our culture in Quebec."

He doubled down on that Thursday, saying Rousseau had demonstrated that he is "not worthy of his duties."

Simon Jolin-Barrette, Quebec's minister for the French Language, said Thursday that Rousseau's attitude toward French was unacceptable and showed a lack of respect for Quebec and Quebecers. (Dany Pilote/Radio-Canada) 'He needs to learn French'

Jolin-Barrette later said he welcomed Rousseau's clarification, but took issue with some of the wording used in the statement and said the apology is not enough. 

"He says the '[the language used] in Quebec is French' â€" it's not only the language used, the official language of Quebec is French," the minister said. 

"It's not enough to make some apologies to Quebecers; he needs to learn French." 

According to Jolin-Barrette, Bill 96, the Quebec government's proposed bill that seeks to bolster the French language in the province by increasing its use in shops and workplaces, could resolve this type of problem by extending its provisions to include companies under federal jurisdiction, such as Air Canada.

All three opposition parties in Quebec have also condemned Rousseau's remarks, with the Liberals and Québec Solidaire calling for his resignation.

"What we are asking today [...] is that Mr. Rousseau apologize for his remarks toward francophones and Quebecers, that he resign from his post and that companies under federal jurisdiction be subject to the French language," said André Fortin, legislation leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec.

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