A jet was involved in a tragic accident with an emergency vehicle overnight, and investigators are currently gathering evidence related to the incident.
On Monday, Air Canada announced that Michael Rousseau, the President and CEO, plans to retire by the end of the third quarter in 2026, marking nearly two decades with the airline.
This announcement coincides with an unfortunate event involving an Air Canada Jazz flight that crashed at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
According to Air Canada, this decision is part of a long-term succession plan, which has been in the works for over two years, with external reviews expected to commence in January 2026.
“On behalf of the board, I want to express our gratitude to Mike for his significant contributions to Air Canada during his tenure, having risen through various roles, including from CFO to CEO,” said board chairman Van Sorensen in a statement.
The airline’s shares dropped by more than 2% on the Toronto Stock Exchange following the announcement.
A few days prior, Rousseau faced backlash for his English-only condolence message about the crash, which some felt lacked sensitivity. Critics pointed to the fact that Canada is officially bilingual, and prominent voices, including Quebec officials, were calling for his resignation.
Rousseau’s message included only a couple of French words: “Bonjour” and “Merci.” He responded to the criticism, expressing regret that his limited French overshadowed the employees’ resilience and the family’s sorrow. He noted that despite taking lessons, he struggles to communicate effectively in French and continues to work on it.
Language remains a contentious topic in Quebec, where French predominates, and feelings about English’s prominence have fueled various political movements, including the rise of the separatist Parti Québécois in the 1970s.
Air Canada is legally required to offer services in both official languages under the Official Languages Act, which guarantees rights for citizens to communicate in either language.
Just last week, Quebec’s parliament voted non-bindingly to ask for Rousseau’s resignation, citing his perceived disregard for the French language.
Quebec is expected to hold parliamentary elections by October, with polls indicating that the Parti Québécois is likely to gain substantial seats.
In 2021, Rousseau had previously apologized and pledged to improve his French skills after facing criticism from Justin Trudeau for using mainly English in a Montreal address.
Rousseau, who became CEO of Air Canada in February 2021, managed to guide the airline through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also encountered criticism regarding a significant flight attendants’ strike last year.
The federal Minister of Transport, Stephen McKinnon, acknowledged Rousseau’s contributions and emphasized the commitment to ensuring Air Canada remains bilingual.
The airline’s board is now in the process of identifying a successor, with French language proficiency being a key criterion.
