Ottawa — a city that lives and breathes bilingualism — is watching closely as Air Canada announced Monday that CEO Michael Rousseau will step down by the end of the third quarter of this year, capping nearly two decades with Canada's flagship carrier.
The timing is hard to ignore. The retirement announcement comes just one week after Rousseau sparked a national firestorm by issuing a condolence statement exclusively in English following the AC8646 crash — a move that was widely condemned as tone-deaf, particularly for the head of an airline that operates under Canada's official languages obligations.
A Week That Changed Everything
The crash of Air Canada flight AC8646 was already a tragedy. But when Rousseau's condolence message arrived without a single word of French, it reignited a long-simmering debate about whether Canada's national airline takes its bilingual responsibilities seriously.
For Ottawans — many of whom are francophone, bilingual, or work in the federal public service where French is a daily reality — the optics were especially jarring. Ottawa sits at the heart of Canada's French-English divide, and residents here are acutely aware of what it means when national institutions signal, even inadvertently, that one language matters more than the other.
The backlash was swift and came from across the political spectrum. Federal politicians, language rights advocates, and ordinary Canadians took to social media to voice their frustration.
Nearly Two Decades at the Helm
Rousseaux joined Air Canada nearly 20 years ago and has guided the airline through some turbulent stretches — including the COVID-19 pandemic, which grounded fleets worldwide and pushed carriers to the brink. Under his leadership, Air Canada rebuilt its operations and returned to profitability.
But his tenure has not been without controversy. In 2021, he drew criticism for admitting he hadn't learned French despite living in Montreal for years — a comment that raised eyebrows across Quebec and in bilingual communities like Ottawa.
What It Means for Ottawa Flyers
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport is one of Air Canada's key regional hubs, with dozens of daily flights connecting the capital to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and beyond. The airline's relationship with Ottawa travellers is direct and personal.
For the city's large francophone community — including residents of Gatineau just across the river — the question of language isn't abstract. It shapes every interaction, from booking a flight to requesting assistance at the gate.
Air Canada has not yet named a successor to Rousseau, but the search will likely be watched carefully by language advocates who will want to see a leader who treats French not as an afterthought but as a core part of the airline's identity.
Looking Ahead
The coming months will be critical for Air Canada as it navigates both the fallout from the AC8646 tragedy and the leadership transition. Whoever steps into Rousseau's role will face immediate pressure to demonstrate a genuine commitment to bilingualism — not just in press releases, but in the culture of the organization from top to bottom.
For Ottawans, that can't come soon enough.
Source: CBC Ottawa / CBC News
