Michael Rousseau: Biography, Resignation, and Salary

Key Facts: Michael Rousseau

Who Is Michael Rousseau?

Michael Rousseau was born in February 1958 in Cornwall, Ontario. He earned a BBA from York University and became a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA, FCA) recognized by CPA Ontario (Air Canada). Before joining Air Canada, Rousseau served as President of Hudson’s Bay Company and held senior financial roles at Moore Corporation, Silcorp Limited, and the UCS Group.

He joined Air Canada in 2007 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In January 2019 he became Deputy CEO while retaining CFO responsibilities. He was appointed President and CEO in February 2021, succeeding Calin Rovinescu (Air Canada).

Under his leadership, Air Canada reported over $2.2 billion in profit in 2025 (CBC). Rousseau’s compensation placed him among the highest-paid airline CEOs in the world.

The bottom line: Rousseau built a strong financial record at Air Canada, but his tenure became defined by a language controversy.

Why Did Michael Rousseau Resign as Air Canada CEO?

The immediate trigger was a condolence video released on 22 March 2026 after Air Canada Express Flight 8646 from Montreal collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport, killing two firefighters (CBC). In the video, Rousseau began with a brief “bonjour” and ended with “merci” but delivered the rest in English. Air Canada Express operates regional flights between cities including Toronto and New York.

This was not his first language controversy. On 3 November 2021, in his first major speech as CEO to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Rousseau spoke for 26 minutes but only about 20 seconds were in French (Wikipedia). When questioned by a journalist in French, he asked for the question in English and stated, “I’ve been able to live in Montreal without speaking French, and I think that’s a testament to the city of Montreal.” He later added, “If you look at my work schedule, you’d understand why.”

“I’ve been able to live in Montreal without speaking French, and I think that’s a testament to the city of Montreal.”

Michael Rousseau, November 2021 (via Wikipedia)

Those comments drew widespread criticism from the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, the federal Commissioner of Official Languages, Quebec Premier François Legault, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Office of the Commissioner received 2,195 complaints about a later corporate video in which Rousseau said only two words in French (Wikipedia). In March 2022 he was summoned to appear before the House of Commons Official Languages Committee.

In February 2024, Rousseau faced additional criticism from a parliamentary committee on services for Canadians with disabilities over Air Canada’s lack of accessibility (Wikipedia).

After the 2026 LaGuardia condolence video, Quebec Premier Legault publicly called for his resignation, and the Quebec National Assembly introduced a motion demanding the same. Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose 2025 federal election campaign emphasized bilingualism, said the English-only message showed “a lack of compassion” and emphasized that Air Canada, as a federally regulated carrier, “have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages” (CBC). Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet called it a “sad, gross lack of respect” toward the family of Captain Antoine Forest.

“It was a sad, gross lack of respect toward Captain Antoine Forest’s family.”

Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc Québécois leader (via CBC)

On 30 March 2026, Air Canada’s board announced that Rousseau would retire by the end of September 2026, after nearly two decades at the airline (Wikipedia). In a follow-up apology, Rousseau said he was “deeply saddened” that his inability to speak French had shifted attention away from mourning the victims (CBC).

What Is Michael Rousseau’s Salary and Net Worth?

Rousseau’s compensation as CEO of Air Canada placed him among the highest-paid airline executives globally. Air Canada posted net income of over $2.2 billion in 2025 (CBC), and executive compensation packages typically include base salary, stock awards, and performance bonuses. However, exact salary figures are not publicly detailed in the sources reviewed.

According to Wikipedia, his compensation rank was among the highest for airline CEOs, though no dollar amount is cited in the verified facts. We did not independently verify net worth estimates.

The catch: Without a proxy statement, precise net worth remains speculative. The available data confirms only that Rousseau was highly compensated relative to industry peers.

Michael Rousseau: Biographical Spec Table

Frequently Asked Questions About Michael Rousseau