Air Canada's compliance with the Official Languages Act – Question Period Card, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Issue Air Canada's compliance with the Official Languages Act Update March 9, 2022 Source n/a Synopsis On November 3rd, 2021, Michael Rousseau, the new President and CEO of Air Canada since February 2021, decided to deliver his first major speech to the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal in English only. On November 8, 2021, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance wrote to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Air Canada to express the disappointment of the Government of Canada, to recall the carrier's commitment, and propose corrective measures.

Recommended response

• We have embarked on an official languages reform with the objective of better supporting the substantive equality between English and French in Canada by strengthening the Official Languages Act .
• Bill C-13 proposes legislative changes which will encourage Air Canada to comply with the Act and provide fully bilingual services to its customers.
• The Commissioner would have expanded powers, including the power to issue administrative monetary penalties for certain federal institutions subject to the Official Languages Act and serving the travelling public.

Background

• On March 1st, 2022, the Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, accompanied by her colleagues, Minister of Justice and President of the Treasury Board tabled Bill C-13 An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts . This Bill provides for, among other things, a strengthening of the Commissioner of Official Languages’ (COL) powers.
  • Specifically, he will see an improvement in his ability to intervene by adding new powers, including the power to impose administrative monetary penalties on certain privatized entities and Crown corporations that are currently subject to the Act in the area of transportation serving the travelling public.

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  Date modified: 2022-07-19