Air Canada’s chief executive has apologized to a parliamentary committee in his first comments since his poor grasp of the French language sparked a huge outcry last fall.
“I am sorry. I apologize again here,” Michael Rousseau said in laboured French during video conference testimony to the standing committee on official languages.
Rousseau said his comments last November were “insensitive” when he said that he managed to live 14 years in Montreal without speaking French, which is “to the credit” of the city.
The CEO was also criticized for giving a business speech in Montreal only in English.
“I admit that I made a mistake by not learning to speak French when I joined Air Canada and I am correcting that mistake at this point,” he said.
Under questioning from Bloc MP Mario Beaulieu, Rousseau said he studies French every morning with tutors from reputable firms.
Rousseau also told the committee that Air Canada, which is subject to the Official Languages Act, understands its obligation to communicate with its customers in the official language of their choice.
Rousseau said unilingual English-speaking employees unable to serve a French-speaking customer, both at the airport and on board the aircraft, are instructed to say “one moment please” while they put them in contact with a French-speaking employee.
Conservative Joel Godin, vice-chair of the committee, told Rousseau that “it’s been 45 years” that the majority of official languages commissioners have described “a systemic problem” at Air Canada.
When Rousseau answered that the language spoken at the board of directors is English, the MP asked how the importance of respecting the French language can be reflected throughout the organization.
Rousseau said the company speaks to its employees in both official languages and half of its employees are bilingual.
NDP MP Niki Ashton said she was disappointed that not only was the Air Canada CEO’s presentation not half in French, which would be the “minimum,” but also that all of his answers were in English.
She said Air Canada shows a “lack of respect” for French, pointing to the CEO as an example.
Since 2016, Air Canada says it has provided more than 130,000 hours of lessons to 10,000 employees to teach them to speak French. The air carrier claims to do “learning retention” for its bilingual employees and develop courses so that employees can “qualify” as bilingual.
“If I calculate quickly, that makes 13 hours per employee,” said Conservative MP Jacques Gourde, who was not impressed.
In response to a Liberal MP who questioned him on how Air Canada will measure its performance in terms of bilingualism, Rousseau said that a decrease in complaints would be a “key indicator.”
Called to assure parliamentarians that Air Canada will fight against the decline of French, Rousseau said that bilingualism is “very important” for the company and for him personally.
“I believe that promoting bilingualism is in the best interest of Canada and Air Canada because it is part of our brand. It is part of our capital and I take it very seriously,” he said.
Air Canada says it has set up a department dedicated to official languages in recent weeks to monitor the carrier’s progress, spent more on training and created an award for promoting bilingualism. In addition, it will offer a bonus to employees who refer a bilingual candidate for a position.
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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