Air Canada CEO Steps Down, French Fluency Pressure Mounts

0:00It's April 29th, Canada News Today starts now, AI-powered and ready. Parliament's official languages committee is backing off plans to question outgoing air Canada CEO, Michael Russo, about his weak French skills. They're dropping the summons because his retirement makes it pointless now. Instead, they'll call in the new CEO expected this fall. Russo announced he's stepping down last month after backlash, forgiving an English only speech right after a deadly plane crash at LaGuardia, airport in New York. That crash killed two pilots, won a French speaking Quebecer, and folks wanted answers on why he couldn't address it in French. This isn't his first running with the committee. Back in 2022, he faced heat for another English speech in Montreal and saying he lived there 14 years without French as proof of. The city's openness. He promised to study 10 hours a week, but still answered in English. Other Canada stood by him, saying his French wasn't up to handling such a heavy topic.

1:00The airline faces tougher language rules under the Official Languages Act since its government own days. Now the focus shifts to the next leader, with Block Quebecois, MP Mario Bolio pushing for full French fluency, especially since headquarters sit in Quebec. This keeps the pressure on for better bilingualism at the top.