Air Canada CEO Criticized for English-Only Condolence

0:00It's March 25th. You're listening to Toronto News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Corey with the story. Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized Air Canada CEO Michael Russo for delivering a condolence message in English only after a deadly crash involving an air-Canada express flight. The incident happened late Sunday at New York's LaGuardia Airport when flight 866 collided with a fire truck, killing both pilots and, sending more than 40 people to the hospital. Air Canada posted the four-minute video shortly after the crash where Russo expressed deep sadness over the loss. He started with Bonjour and ended with Mercy, but the rest was in English with French subtitles. As a company under Canada's Official Languages Act, Air Canada faces expectations to communicate in both languages, especially in sensitive situations. Actions poured in quickly from politicians and the public. Carney called it a lack of judgment and compassion on his way into a caucus meeting.

1:02Rulocuevec Quas, leader Yves François Blanchet, labelled it disrespectful, particularly since one pilot was a French-speaking Quebecer. By Tuesday, 84 complaints had reached the Official Languages Commissioner. The House of Commons Official Languages Committee voted Tuesday to summon Russo to Ottawa for questioning. He said he would watch the CEO's response and expect comments from the airlines board. Air Canada defended the choice, saying Russo used English to convey the sensitive message most effectively before heading to the crash site, as his. French skills fell short for such an emotional statement. The situation highlights ongoing tensions around bilingualism in Canada.