Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has strongly criticized Air Canada after its CEO released a condolence message in English only following a deadly plane crash.
The message came after an Air Canada flight collided with a vehicle at LaGuardia Airport on March 23, 2026, killing two Canadian pilots. In response, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau shared a video expressing sympathy to the victims’ families. While the video included French subtitles, it was spoken only in English.
Carney said this was not enough. Speaking to reporters, he stressed that Canada is a bilingual country, where both English and French are official languages. He said companies like Air Canada have a responsibility to communicate in both languages, especially during serious moments.
“I’m very disappointed,” Carney said, calling the decision a “lack of judgment and compassion.” His comments reflect concerns raised by many Canadians who felt the message did not fully respect the country’s linguistic identity.
The reaction was quick. Canada’s Committee on Official Languages has summoned Rousseau to appear and explain the situation. He is expected to speak before Members of Parliament by May 1.
At the same time, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages reported receiving at least 84 complaints about the message. Many people argued that a bilingual country should be represented equally, especially in national moments of grief.
