The decision of the new president of Air Canada, Michael Russo, To give his first major speech in Montreal Not only did the English language shock political actors, it also caused complaints to the Office of the Official Languages Commissioner.
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We called Air Canada this morning […] Reaffirming the importance of the two official languages in their communications, including in their letters,” Commissioner Raymond Tipperge stressed in a statement sent to magazine.
Meanwhile, we have received six complaints regarding this highly anticipated letter. We are currently analyzing these complaints to determine if they are acceptable.”
Mr. Tyberg states that the issues related to the Official Languages Act “have been going on for several years at Air Canada”. On average, 80 complaints are filed each year against the carrier.
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Repeating the offender
In Ottawa, many elected officials have criticized Air Canada, notably the new Minister of Official Languages, Jeannette Pettibas Taylor. “The carrier should do this in both official languages - and its leaders should lead by example,” she said on Twitter, according to her.
“It says a lot about the lack of respect for the French language,” noted Quebec blocker Mario Beaulieu, who remembers Air Canada as a “repeated criminal” in the matter. Air Canada is headquartered in Quebec, and it is completely unacceptable that you deliver its speech in English only in this way. ”
“I find it a slap in the face to French truth and to all Quebecers,” said New Democratic Representative Alexandre Boulliris.
PQ criticizes CAQ’s inaction
The reaction was even more timid on the part of the Caquist government.
The office of the Minister responsible for the French language, Simon-Jolin-Barrett, emphasized that “the speech should be given in French” and that Air Canada and its management should do better.
The reaction hardly impresses with Parti Québécois, who campaigns for federally chartered companies like Air Canada to bring it under Bill 101.
“This is yet another example of a lack of respect for our common language,” PQ leader Paul Saint-Pierre Blamondon noted, in an interview with Newspaper.
“It reminds us that in Quebec, companies like Air Canada ran away from Bell 101. It was a CAQ request, and they were denied and since then, they are no longer talking about it,” he said, sorry.
CCMM and signs persisted
For his part, Michel Leblanc, president of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, does not think he was wrong to invite the president of Air Canada.
The Chamber’s role is to invite all CEOs and CEOs who are likely to have an impact on the business environment to its forum. […] “In the case of the language used, it is their language,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. LeBlanc said he understood the skin’s reaction and noted that “Air Canada must make decisions about how they want to communicate their vision, particularly in terms of business language”.
In the past, Air Canada executives often accessed the CCMM platform. The company is also one of the main sponsors of the Chamber.
what they said
“Quebecers have a right to expect that the example will be set at the highest level.”
– Pablo Rodriguez, Lieutenant of Quebec for the Canadian Liberal Party.
Speaking only in English is not acceptable and Air Canada must do better and lead by example.
– Alan Reese, Conservative Party of Canada spokesperson in official languages.
“This is yet another example of our common language being disrespected.”
– Paul Saint-Pierre Blamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois party.
“I think it’s a slap in the face for the French and for all Quebecers.”
– Alexandre Boliris, Member of the National Democratic Council of Rosemont, La Petite Petrie.
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