Angry protesters demanded that Air Canada’s new monolingual English-speaking CEO step down in front of the company’s headquarters on Saturday, unwilling to apologize for his “disrespect” to the Cubs.
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“I can’t accept the fact that he doesn’t need to learn French to live in Quebec. This is what shocked me the most. This is a respectable question,” said 55-year-old Mark-Andre DuPont, waving the Quebec flag in his hands.
Despite the cold weather and pouring rain, more than a hundred of them raised slogans in the hope that their frustration would be heard inside the Air Canada building.
“Rousseau, create the wind. Rousseau, you don’t fly high. Rousseau, leave, ”they all cried in chorus.
There is no word in the French language
About ten days ago, Air Canada’s new boss, Michael Rousseau, spoke only in English, despite being in Quebec for 14 years. His speech poured more ink and prompted the Office of the Official Language Commissioner to register 2,000 complaints.
Since then, he has announced that he has started learning French, but according to many, it is too late. Newspaper, Saturday.
“French lessons are good, but you can’t learn such a language […] This is an insult to the nation of Quebec. Air Canada, you can and should do better, ”protested Mary-Ann Aleppin, president of the Society Saint-Jean-Baptist de Montreal.
The latter was satisfied to see all who had moved beyond the distance. “STM does not provide service on weekends. But it shows that there is no room for this kind of mood,” he added.
“Disconnected”
To replace the iron in the wound, Air Canada is a Canadian company headquartered in a large metropolis.
“Business leaders don’t know. [Michael Rousseau] Shame on you for living here for so long and not learning French. He has been severed, ”lamented Helene Dufresne, 76, a protester under her umbrella.
Bloc Québécois MP responsible for the Official Languages Law File Mario Fulio did not diminish in the slightest about his frustration at the appointment of the Director-General of the National Gallery of Canada and a Governor-General who spoke one language English.
“They are opening monolingual English posts as an immigration officer in Montreal. It is clear that we are being deceived. It will. It is enough,” he blunted.
The speech was adjourned
On Friday, SNC-Lavalin leader Ian Edwards announced that he was postponing his speech scheduled for Monday to ensure that the expectations of the Cubs for the French language were met.
“Canada is a bilingual country. We are not anti-English, but a Canadian company executive must speak both languages, ”concluded 18-year-old Matthew Hull.