Only English speech by Air Canada boss: “Not acceptable” says Franయిois Legalt

The Prime Minister regretted that Air Canada’s new boss had decided to speak only English in his forthcoming speech tomorrow before the Metropolitan Montreal Board of Trade.

Also read: Great speech in English in Quebec: Anger and complaints against Air Canada

Also read: The only speech in English for the new boss of Air Canada

“He is the president of one of the leading Quebec companies. This is not acceptable,” Franకోois Legalt said in an interview with our parliamentary bureau.

Although his business was officially subject to the Official Languages ​​Act, Michael Rousseau wanted to address his Quebec audience in the language of Shakespeare.

“It is not today that Air Canada has problems with the French. However, its headquarters are in Montreal, ”said Premier Legalt.

Earlier on Twitter, Simon Jolene-Barrett, the minister responsible for the French language, confirmed that Air Canada and its management “should do better”.

“It is an honor to address the business community of Quebec’s French-speaking metropolis of Montreal in the official and common language, French,” he wrote.

In French in Glasgow

For his part, Franకోois Legalt was scheduled to speak in French on Thursday at the official event framework of COP26, with delegates coming to hear him speak.

“I’m going to do this mainly in French, except at the beginning, perhaps politely, to greet people who are there and do not speak French,” he underlined.

His predecessor, Philippe Coillard, was criticized for speaking only English at the International Arctic Circle Conference shortly after being elected in 2014.

Air Canada explains

In addition, Air Canada gave more details about its new boss speech. Despite the shouts, the carrier is on course and the manager speaks only English.

“English is Michael Rousseau’s mother tongue and he is well versed,” said spokeswoman Pascal Derry.

“Since this is an important speech in front of a business audience about resuming carrier operations and its strategy for years to come, Mr. Rousseau decided to deliver his speech in English and informed the participants in advance,” she continued in an email sent to Journal.

The latter indicated that the speech would be posted online after the fact on the Air Canada website in two official languages.

However, there will be no simultaneous translation during tomorrow’s speech in the Chamber of Commerce’s Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM) gallery at the Palais des Congress.

In addition, Air Canada recalls that its management is well established in Montreal. Eight of the eleven members of senior management live in the metropolis.

Even to watch