Air Canada CEO Summoned Over English-Only Crash Video

0:00Air Canada's chief executive, Michael Russo, faces the summons to a parliamentary committee after issuing an English-only video message of condolence, following a deadly plane crash. The jazz aviation flight for Montreal collided with a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia airport on Sunday night, killing two pilots, including Quebecer Antoine Forrest. Over 40 passengers and crew were injured. On Tuesday, the official languages committee unanimously passed a motion demanding, Russo explained his unilingual statement, which they called. Inconsistent with Canada's official languages act, he must appear for up to one hour by May 1, with experts joining in the second hour to discuss solutions for such cases. Politicians expressed strong outrage right away. Transport Minister Steven McKinnon called the English-only video unacceptable, stressing Air Canada's legal duty to use both languages. Bloquet-Biquois leader Yves-François-Blanchet labeled it a rude lack of respect toward the French-speaking pilots family while Quebec's French. Language Minister deemed it contemptuous.

1:05This isn't Russo's first brush with language controversies. Three years ago, the same committee rejected requiring Air Canada executives to speak French, despite Quebec's push. Back in 2021, Russo apologized for an English-heavy speech in Montreal after living their 14 years without learning the. Language? Yeah, he still struggles with it. Air Canada says all other crash communications went out in both languages, with subtitles on the video, but 84 complaints flooded the. Languages commissioned air by Tuesday afternoon. The debate highlights ongoing tensions over bilingual obligations for the once federal airline. Stay informed with Canada News today. AI-powered updates.