Air Canada will see a management change, and I don’t think many people will be sad to hear that.
Continue reading: Au Revoir: Air Canada CEO Fired, But Who Will Replace Him?
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Quebec makes Canadian politics so weird.
Outside of some school districts in Ontario and New Brunswick, French language education in Canadian public schools is bad - really no different than second-language education in the United States.
On top of that, there's really little motive for someone in say Vancouver to learn French - learning Spanish or Chinese would be far more useful.
Given the increasing amount of jobs that require bilingualism in Canada (good luck getting into a high level management role at the Federal government without learning French), this basically gives Quebec an insane amount of control over Canadian politics by job placement.
I assumed Mark became COO precisely to get him operational leadership experience to prepare him for the CEO role. He's only been in that role for 11 months. He does speak French... If the Board doesn't elevate him, he'll eventually be a CEO.
Yes.. please send Robert Isom over so space is made for a competent person to shape up AA.
Joke aside - what about Pieter Elbers? [I'm not sure how good his French is] since he was just released from IndiGo.
Cheers!
This is crazy and embarrassing as a Canadian. Competency should not be replaced by linguistic abilities. No wonder no one likes Quebec
Alexis Texas is joining the airline industry to replace him.
They are constrained to have an English speaker succeed a French speaker
When Lufthansa goes to Japan , the Lufthansa crew does not need to speak Japanese .
No one cares if the CEO of Air Canada speaks Frenchie ; no one in Texas speaks Frenchie .
Oui Oui , monsieur . If one goes on vacation to Hawaii , one does not need to learn Hawaiian .
Was he really that bad? Air Canada generally has been doing fine, they've been expanding their international network well, they've recovered from pandemic losses to profitability.
A lot of macro level issues like US relations or the ongoing ME conflict that he isn't in control of. He just seems to be a generic CEO imo. He didn't sink anything, just maintained the status quo in the right direction.
Fired because he was unable to make an official statement in French, or hold a press conference in that language. AC is big enough to hire French speaking spokespeople and public relations. Have a francophone read translated statements in French or answer Quebecois press questions. No reason for the CEO to perform these public relations roles.
Would you be OK with a Mexican who only speaks Spanish running Delta or United? I bet you wouldn’t.
So now we all know why Tim Dunn, has been absent from this website just recently …. he must have been bulling up on his French sprecken. Good luck with your interview and subsequent appointment Tim, Delta will miss you.
Do people really not understand that complaining about him when he isn't here is just as annoying as his actual posts?
Canadian here. The role of bilingualism in the Canadian social/political space is often confounding to non-Canadians (and particularly to Americans tbh). Ben has already hit on several elements of it: the airline is headquartered in Québec, and employs a ton of francophones, and it's likely that most of the passengers on the YUL-LGA flight in question were Francophone. The bigger issue is that bilingualism runs through every other aspect of the airline. If you want nearly any client-facing role at Air Canada - gate agents, customer service reps, flight attendants, etc - you must speak both. The airline is mandated, by law, to serve its customers in both official languages. That its CEO could not do so, and appeared either unwilling or unable to devote the time and effort necessary to learn how, had become a massive liability.
As an anglophone raised in an anglophone province (and who has laboured mightily for the last 7-8 years to learn French to a level where I can comfortably use it in professional settings), many of my views on the extent of bilingualism requirements are quite complicated. But one element that is not is my belief that if your entry-level workers have to speak both, then your CEO has to speak both as well. And if you don't, can't, or won't, there are many fine big companies in this country where that is not a requirement of the CEO job. However, Canada's Montreal-headquartered flag carrier is not among them.
Alert--English and French are both the official ;anhuages of Canada. Just loke English and Texan are the official languages of Texas.
I did take French in high school but never lived in a French speaking country but do speak more than one language so I am not the "usual American"
Sorry Alert
The number of spelling mistakes in my last comment suggest that I should not be commentimng on language issues. Here is a corrected version:
English and French are the official languages of Canada. Just like English and Texan are the official languages of Texas.
Your two comparisons are not even remotely similar.
As for the statement “No one cares…”. Well, that is pretty objectively false, considering tje whole controversy is rooted in that, and Quebec’s legislature voted 92-0 calling for hos resignation.
Air Canada: where you don't have to be qualified if you can speak French. Whats next, pilots without any certification besides their French diploma?
Politics is reserved to air grievances and settle score. It is never for the common good of society. Pierre Trudeau got into tussles with Parti Quebecois often enough that he publicly called them "cochon"/ pigs. You can live in Montreal without knowing French. French language has been on decline for decades now because English is widely used in medicine, science and especially now high-tech. Decades ago, France lost many opportunities to host conferences when it required attendees know French. In SE Asian countries that were French colonies, students are no longer interested in French scholarships. They rather learn English when employment opportunities are much more available with higher salaries. World economies are much more integrated and inter-dependent now that we can get away knowing English only when traveling and engaging in businesses abroad, set aside google translation app. It gives English native speakers the comfort and arrogance not to be proficient in another language both in speaking and writing, unless they learn at home or it is an employment requirement. To say nobody cares if Air Canada CEO is unilingual displays an utter absence of knowledge in Canadian history. No other foreign language is relevant in Canada if you want to climb the political and perhaps business ladder. Any immersion language program always fails to train people to become proficient because the only way to become fluent in a language, you must use it daily with native speakers. As they say, when learning a language you will " use it or lose it".
I agree with all the above. I'd like to add that, in the case of an aircraft incident, it's the bare minimum respect to address sympathy in the victims' language, where you come from a country which speaks such language.
It can only remind me of MH370 where, with an overwhelming majority of Chinese passengers, Malaysia made a point to do English-only press conferences, while it isn't exactly hard, in Kuala Lumpur to find someone capable of translating to Mandarine.
Quebecer here whose mother tongue is English but also speaks French on account of having grown up here. I would add one more thing to explain why last week's English condolences video caused an uproar. The captain was French and given how the plane originated in Montreal a good number of survivors would also be French. It is a basic act of respect to send a message to the captain's loved ones and the survivors in their mother tongue.
The French media here in Quebec is reporting that Rousseau completed 500 hours of French training after the 2021 incident. I find it hard to believe that after that many hours of instruction he couldn't make a pre-recorded statement using a teleprompter that would have been written by someone in the PR department. Even if he really didn't feel comfortable doing a video in French he should have at least had the foresight to have someone who could speak the language record it.
Mark Galardo is from Montreal I believe so if his French is up to par I imagine that would give him an edge over Mark Nasr, unless he has been learning French with the hopes of getting the CEO job. Either way I hope one of them becomes CEO. I agree that Rousseau has been an absolute dud during his tenure. This latest incident was just one of many examples of his poor performance in the role.
I find it odd that most English speaking Americans who live in places like southern Texas and Miami where English is not the main language do not make even a token effort to learn Spanish. “If I talk slow and loud every one understands English”
Maybe not but as a part of the legislation that made Air Canada transition from a Crown Corporation to a public company there are legislative reasons that need to be considered as well
Maybe Air Canada should consider moving out of Quebec rather than dealing with the asinine non-productive, free-market capitalism inhibiting, bilingual issue saddling Air Canada with baggage. This clearly shows a drag upon Air Canada other companies are not necessarily facing in North America, thus limiting their overall competitiveness. Ouch and yes.
That last sentence is a good point to emphasize. This is far from the first controversy in his tenure: the complete meltdown of Canadian air travel in summer 2022 (it was bad everywhere but it was particularly bad in Canada), the complete botching of CBA negotiations with the flight attendants and the company's handling of the subsequent strike (and subsequent subsequent wildcat strike), the changes to Aeroplan status qualification that have put many of their frequent flyers in a foul mood. In a world where all of those had been handled well, Rousseau probably gets through this without resigning/retiring, but alas.
So a guy has been given the highest position in the company for 20 years and has been a dud in that position. When did he become a dud? Last year? From year 1? How did he get the position in the first place?
Actually, Spanish is almost as widely used as English in Texas. Or the combination of the two-"Tejano."
In the world of aviation, English is the official language. The man did nothing wrong.
Also worth nothing is that Canadian/Quebecois French is like calling the New Jersey-fied garbage, Italian-like mumblings "Italian". I'm a former Edmonton resident that understands enough "real" French to be confused by what Quebecois call French when spoken. Feels like this is a Sisyphian battle for Quebec given the nature of their version of French, what the rest of the world is doing when it comes to the new lingua franca (English - whether British or American), and the language used by technology, science, etc.
Required to stay in Quebec AND to serve all passengers in both of Canada's official languages. These requirements were agreed as part of their permission to go private years ago. The Board doesn't get to decide, they must satisfy the requirements.
@Aidan -
THANK YOU for that terrific explanation / primer for the non-Canadians amongst us. This non-Canadian really appreciates your thoughtful insights.
I think the public discontent was not so much about bilinguism, but about the lack of empathy. As others have said, the captain who died was a French speaker and so were probably a majority of the passengers on a YUL-LGA flight. One would expect the CEO to read out a few words in French (prepared by the communications team) and show some sympathy in this language, at the very least. Nobody would be upset about poor pronounciation or grammatical errors, but not even trying to do so, was too much.
Thanks for the update there… I was wondering if JetBlue would be interested in an alliance, but if Air Canada is actually saddled with that limitation, no one in their right mind in North America would bother with a JV or other type of formal agreement to partner with Air Canada. Merci beaucoup.
“In the world of aviation, English is the official language”. Maybe so, but the CEO isn’t piloting the plane and talking to ATC, he’s leading an iconic Canadian company. He lives in a French speaking province, one of the dead pilots at least was French speaking and by all accounts he had the time needed to learn French that he should have been able to communicate in it.
“Do people really not understand that complaining about him when he isn't here is just” plain ignorant. Yes Jake, one chooses the word ‘ignorant’ very carefully in response to your post. You see Fake, you have proven yourself to be most ignorant on at least two counts.
No: 1. My post above is a satirical missive aimed squarely at the ignoramuses like you who troll Tim at every opportunity.
No: 2. My post above was made to help Ben, with his clicks in response to his click-bait article.
Thank you Fake, for proving to be so ignorant, along with your equally ignorant fanboys, that you cannot resist jumping headlong into the satirical quagmire.
I really do love it when a plan comes together and the trap reveals the victims, yes? …. 🙂
No one would bother to partner with Air Canada due to its commitment to French? You wot? It’s literally in the Star Alliance and a major partner of United.
Thank you Tim, once again you have provided this comments page with gleeful entertainment and Ben, with more clicks.
Justin, you make a very valid point there which so many others have missed. Those responsible for hiring and retaining the subject are as much to blame for any of his shortcomings as he is.
Could this be yet another case of backstabbing and a coverup for the failings of others?
James, “In the world of aviation”, or, even in the real world; those who appointed the CEO and have not identified any of his shortcomings or put measures in place to mitigate them, must themselves share the responsibility. One of the most important points of leadership and management which those with an MBA know nothing about.
He knew the requirements of the job, and didn't meet them.
If he was Black in America, the yokels would be screaming "D.E.I." loud enough to hear on the other side of the planet.
I mean, the new CEO should actually be bilingual in Indian or Arabic and English, not French and English. Much wider reach in the population
Yes, by all means, let's make this a significant issue. For a large portion of society, there are so many things to be offended by, and so little time to agonize about each.
Mark Galardo would a great fit as the next CEO, having spoken to him numerous times. He is knowledgable, speaks French, community-minded, and really driving great topline returns. AC needs steady leadership and Mark Galardo would provide the people leadership and business acumen that AC needs. What made Calin so successful was his cult following with AC people, Mark Galardo has the same vibe and potential.
I'm surprised this took the guy out. Like, I'm sure he's getting a generous 'golden parachute' unless they actually hold corporate executives to account in Canada (unlike the US), though, he didn't do anything that serious, like... c'mon.
And I suppose you understand every word spoken in Southern France French or Belgium French?
James- If you’re looking for someone to blame. How about those stupid young pilots who were not listening to ATC and were not aware of a giant fire truck crossing the runway.
The fish pond is pretty small for French ceo’s but Quebecer aren’t that good anyway but if you want subpar ceo’s good luck
Well there is the rest of the leadership team who for the most part are native or fluent French speakers. Apparently even the Danish chairman of the board speaks French.
Others with confirmable Francais include John Di Bert, Mark Galardo, Craig Landry, Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Mark Nasr, Kevin O’Connor, Murray Strom.
Also Marc Barbeau also most certainly speaks French as he has legal degrees from both McGill and Sorbonne in Paris
Dave Stafford - this is a post about the CEO resigning, not about who is to blame for the tragic crash. As far as I’m aware, the investigation is still ongoing so, no, I’m not apportioning “blame”.
Any chance AA's Board will let Isom out of his contract?
Or if not Vasu may be available.
Or maybe Nico Harrison?
James~ I know more about aviation than most experts and can tell you without question the pilots were 100 percent at fault. ATC had cleared the fire truck to cross the runway; but the experienced stupid pilots put their 76 passengers and the lady stewardesses in danger.
"no one in their right mind in North America would bother with a JV or other type of formal agreement to partner with Air Canada"
Yeah except for the US airline with the largest mainline fleet on the planet.
You're an idiot.
And that's coming from someone with much more aviation experience than you.
Please tell me what the pilots did incorrectly, short of hovering, that could have stopped them from hitting the fire truck.
The controller was overloaded, forgot he had an occupied runway, and crossed the fire truck without scanning the entire environment.
The pilots were the least responsible for what happened at LGA.
So say 2 not Canadians.
There's a history, both of the nation and of the company. When this guy accepted the appointment he knew he was required to get his French on.
Air Canada went private after Canadian taxpayers spent decades pouring millions of their hard-earned money into it as a Crown Corporation. The deal had Terms, including:
-must stay in Montreal
-must interact with the Canadian public, in all matters, in both of Canada's official languages
It's not a company decision, it's not a board decision and it sure as hell isn't a OMAAT commenters' decision.
AC used to be owned by the people, now it's owned by shareholders and the people didn't get a dime for it. They got commitments.
" ...lady stewardesses .. " - A beautiful tautology & anachronistic at the same time ! ... lol
( as opposed to 'male stewardess' ) .... Made my day !
The idea that there are no good options is ridiculous. You don't need to have been a CEO somewhere else to be a good CEO. There's a huge confirmation bias there, but also there are lots of CEO's with the 'perfect resume' that are in fact terrible CEO's (if you go based on stock performance).
Their own leadership bench is a source of french speaking, qualified candidates. Also, people are constantly navigating big steps up in terms of oversight and scope of responsibility if they're high performing ambitious executives so you don't need to have managed something the size of Air Canada to be qualified (or at least I don't think that needs to be a requirement if you can show you know how to tackle the expansion in responsibility).
I also think there's a tendency for Boards to overweight certain criteria when selecting a CEO and then think that the individual they've selected is the ONLY qualified person in the world, when in reality, there are others that can check the language box and still meet all the requirements.
@DCAWABN
LOL. I thought I was the only one that couldn't understand Quebecois French.
Similar to you speaking “fake English”. But I give you credit for staying true to the American arrogance.
Flew them in February, awful service, flight attendants totally disinterested, so I think they need change from top down.
110% Correct ReriredATLATC.
DS has just publicly demonstrated the lack of his worth on any aviation topic under discussion.
I have friends at Air Canada who are jumping for joy ! There are many AC employees who would rather the airline model itself after DL/UA rather than AA...they want positive leadership and a product that they are proud of.
What about the old COO who is now at Spirit Airline. He speaks multiple languages including French, is Canadian and already knows how to run an airline.
Well, speaking several languages is hardly an impediment for most high-performing executives around the world.
It tends to be more of a grievance for disgruntled Alberta oil drillers who have scarcely opened a book.
As a Canadian not from Quebec this is making a mountain out of a molehill. Although Canada is officially bilingual, Quebec itself refuses to allow anything of value to happen in English. No business signs. You cannot even talk to your medical practitioner in English even if you are monolingual. Nobody has investigated this effect oh healthcare yet but I suspect it is not minimal.
The PM Carney is always looking at something to deflect attention from his failure as a PM so this is right up his alley. The hypocrisy is that he barely speaks French himself and Canada's Governor General is English only as well.
I think a little compassion for the pilots would have been a much better response than Carney making political hay from the tragedy.
I just love the story of a Montreal resident who wanted to move to France but was refused because she didn't speak French.
A better one was that recently a Scottish ER nurse was denied a licence in Ontario because she didn't speak "English" - then off you go to the food stores and the restaurants and NOBODY speaks English.
Random musings about the PM give your game away, it can’t surprise after that that Quebec is a bit of a mystery. Onterrible or Alberta based?
It would be fun to see a CEO not cultivating a culture of outward hostility towards customers…
Interesting post, thank you.
While the board is suggesting that the search for the next CEO is external, there are very strong candidates internally.
While Mark Nasr and Mark Galardo have been mentioned and could be good, Arielle Meloul-Wechsler and Craig Landry should also be on the roster of candidates. I have worked with many on the senior executive team and these four are strong leaders, smart, and genuinely good people. They all speak French, from professionally functional to fluent and, more importantly, are widely respected and admired by their teams and colleagues.
While all four should be considered for the CEO role, I believe Craig Landry would be the strongest choice. He is brilliant, extremely versatile, eloquent and confident, yet down to earth. He has had senior executive leadership positions in many different core areas of the airline and is probably the senior leader with the most broad and varied AC experience. He is results driven but also very customer focused. Craig would be a fantastic CEO at Air Canada.
This I am afraid is nonsense. Carney’s French is perfectly serviceable. I should know - I’ve speaking the language for more than 50 years.
I guess I still have a lack of understanding here while I get he was supposed to improve his French and all, that apparently didn't happen.
Why did the AC PR team not simply step in and translate his letter?
Quebec is the only part of Canada that's not pretty much the same as the US... especially Alberta. Edmonton is objectively a culture-free dump compared to Montreal. You are so bigoted and dumb, you should join the US. Someone could make the same comments about the version of English you speak which is as different from the Queen's English as some of the versions of French spoken in Quebec but I don't expect a racist moron like you to understand.
French language. Haha
Important for everyone to speak french first. Even garbage collectors. I met a Canadian nurse in Houston. She is 99% fluent in French. 100% in English. Studied nursing in English language in Quebec. She was told she had to repeat nursing program in French language only. She was told if she was 100% fluent in French and scored 100% in all tests she would still fail. So she moved to America. So sad. She also had story that a friend was in hospital. She spoke to friend in English. Supervisor heard and told her she would be disciplined if she did not speak first in French language. She said patient is close friend and English is dominant language. Supervisor said I do not care. You will address all people first in French.
So why a nursing story? Quebec French do not care sbout talent. All they care about is if you speak French. Fuck french canadians. Yes I think Quebec should be our 51st state. The rest of Canada would approve.
Hahaha. Most of the discussion is ‘does someone soeak french?’ Hahaha. Good luck to the frechfryoffiles. Haha
I disagree as i don’t think Mark is ready. He is great in network but lacks a lot of the other parts of the business MTC, crew management, no labour relations and not great with product. Also, very biased on YUL development. I think he still has growing up to do as an executive. Sometimes having the ambition outrun the readiness is a disaster
Duncan Dee COO under Milton and Calin, CBC/CTV industry commentator, now at Spirit for restructuring and Chapter 11 exit. Very experienced, Canadian speaks english, French plus 5 or 6 other languages. Still young.
What are you talking about? United is in a JV with them, and they are a Star Alliance member.
'It is a big deal to those in Quebec.' Really, it should be seen as a big deal across Canada. The man may not have been bilingual, but his office surely is: His minions failed him - who knows why?