MY ITALIAN FRIEND

MY ITALIAN FRIEND... 
By Bernard Bujold - 
My condo neighbor, an Italian man with a contagious smile, passed away yesterday, Monday, March 31. He had been diagnosed with advanced cancer six weeks ago and had been in the hospital ever since. He reportedly told some of those who visited him that he knew he was going to die... 
I really loved my neighbor, who was a rebel at heart! I liked to tell him he was a warrior fighting against society’s injustices. Usually, I quickly forget my friends and acquaintances after they die, and I like to say that I live with the living. But I will remember my Italian friend for a long time and with affection...

GILBERT ROZON SAVES HIS MILLIONS

GILBERT ROZON SAVES HIS MILLIONS... 
The judge has handed down her ruling in the Gilbert Rozon case, but while Gilbert Rozon has been ordered to pay damages to 8 of the 9 plaintiffs, the amounts are well below the $14 million sought, totaling $880,780. The damages awarded to each of the 8 plaintiffs range from $70,000 to $155,780.

AIR CANADA CEO STEPS DOWN

AIR CANADA CEO STEPS DOWN… 
The pressure surrounding his inability to speak French had become too intense, and Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau will step down by September 30, at the end of the company’s third quarter. All politicians have applauded the move. 
SEE RADIO-CANADA REPORT 
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2242632/pdg-air-canada-michael-rousseau-demission?partageApp=appInfoiOS&accesVia=partage

THE MAGIC SHOES

THE MAGIC SHOES… 

By Bernard Bujold- 

I’m going to have to put my running shoes away and wear my new FLORSHEIM shoes—Donald Trump’s favorite pair… They’re not expensive ($145 US), but they’re very comfortable! 

They say that anyone who becomes close to Donald receives a pair of FLORSHEIM shoes as a gift of friendship… 

SEE VIDEO MAGIC SHOES https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tgNEio67yR54Hx4KxAFcxbwgyzqKN9a6/view?usp=sharing 

SEE THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORT 

https://www.wsj.com/style/fashion/trump-florsheim-shoes-tucker-carlson-jd-vance-bessent-448567ab?st=8VzTWd&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

THE WOMAN WITH GREY HAIR

THE WOMAN WITH GRAY HAIR… 
By Bernard Bujold - 
Society has long favored women with youthful-looking hair thanks to the science of hair coloring. But increasingly, women with gray hair are taking center stage, projecting a femininity marked by maturity and self-confidence, and leaving the color of their youth behind in their memories... 
The New York Times has published an interesting analysis of this new social phenomenon. 
Happy Spring 2026... 
 SEE REPORT THE NEW YORK TIMES 
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/23/fashion/gray-hair-natural-dye.html?unlocked_article_code=1.WlA.WlZQ.JLZ2DjX595xJ&smid=url-share

MONEY OR HONOR

MONEY OR HONOR… 

 By Bernard Bujold -  The media crisis surrounding AIR CANADA will end just as it began—that is, without any consequences… 

 AIR CANADA is built on three pillars: employees, customers, and, ultimately, shareholders. When Michael Rousseau was hired as President and CEO in February 2021, Air Canada’s financial situation was precarious, and the company was suffering massive losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic (a net loss of $3.6 billion for fiscal year 2021), but it had significant cash reserves. Furthermore, in April 2021, shortly after Mr. Rousseau took office, AIR CANADA reached an agreement with the Government of Canada for a financial support program of up to $5.9 billion to stabilize its operations without resorting to court-supervised restructuring (bankruptcy). In the fourth quarter of 2025, Air Canada reported record revenue of $5.8 billion and $22.5 billion for the full fiscal year 2025. The company’s net profit amounted to $296 million during the last three months of the year, while Air Canada’s stock price has risen 22% over the past year. 

 It is worth noting that Air Canada’s stock price has risen by more than 7% since Monday, March 23—a span of three days—after and despite the controversy sparked by the CEO’s message, issued solely in English, following Sunday evening’s tragic accident in New York. This is a fairly clear signal of investors’ complete lack of interest in the issue of bilingualism at Air Canada. Rousseau’s approach: “We continue to focus on cost management, productivity, cash generation, and maintaining the flexibility of our balance sheet!” said Michael Rousseau during the release of the carrier’s latest results on February 12. 

 Conclusion: AIR CANADA operates on money, not honor… 

 Michael Rousseau’s compensation exceeded $12 million in 2022, 2023, and 2024. 

 SEE RADIO CANADA REPORT 

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2241800/michael-rousseau-francais-air-canada-resultats?partageApp=appInfoiOS&accesVia=partage

A LOVE FOR THE FRENCH LANGUAGE

A LOVE FOR THE FRENCH LANGUAGE… 
By Bernard Bujold- 
Personally, for me, language is a tool for communication, and I love using both French and English. I always read in the author’s original language and speak in the language of my audience. I’ve often tried reading a translated book, but it’s never as enjoyable. 
That being said, it’s clear that Air Canada’s president, Michael Rousseau, doesn’t like to use any language other than his native tongue… This is perfectly acceptable in private life, but wanting to run a company as large as Air Canada exclusively in English is not only impractical for employees and customers, but above all, insulting to them. 
The airline’s current president is not the kind of leader Air Canada should have. As of THURSDAY, March 26, 2026, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages had received a total of over 1800 complaints against Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau, regarding a four-minute condolence video released entirely in English (except for a “Bonjour” and a “Merci”) following the fatal crash of an Air Canada Express flight at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday, March 22, which claimed the lives of both pilots, one of whom was Quebec native Antoine Forest. 
Prime Minister Mark Carney described the message by Rousseau as a “lack of judgment and compassion.” Several elected officials, including Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet and Quebec Premier François Legault, have called for Michael Rousseau’s resignation. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages voted unanimously to summon Michael Rousseau to explain himself by May 1, 2026. 
SEE Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada (COMPLAINT FORM) https://share.google/PJcqxOZjtWBxdMs4l

ANTOINE FOREST 1995-2026

ANTOINE FOREST - 1995-2026 

https://www.facebook.com/antoine.forest.33

THE LOVE OF MONEY

THE LOVE OF MONEY… 
By Bernard Bujold — 
Quebec entrepreneur Luc Poirier provoked viewers of Radio-Canada’s TOUT LE MONDE EN PARLE by declaring that he wasn’t in business for the money… 
I don’t know Poirier at all, but what he says is true. 
I have personally rubbed shoulders with, or known very closely, three great Quebec businessmen: Pierre Péladeau, Jean Coutu, and Paul Desmarais Sr. All three of them echoed Poirier’s sentiment! “You don’t become a successful entrepreneur for the money!” Péladeau said that what motivated him was beating the competition; Jean Coutu repeated that his joy in life had been building a pharmacy empire; and Paul Desmarais loved seeing Power Corp. dominate its rivals. For these three entrepreneurs, money was merely a score in their respective competitions. A sort of horse race in which they finished at the head of the pack… 
“The joy of life is having passions. Without passion, life becomes sad!” as pharmacist Jean Coutu once told me; he will celebrate his 99th birthday on May 28… 
SEE INTERVIEW LUC POIRIER 
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/tele/tout-le-monde-en-parle/site/segments/entrevue/2329318/luc-poirier-impot-immobilier

THE JOURNEY OF LIFE...

THE JOURNEY OF LIFE… 

By Bernard Bujold - 

As all of Quebec mourns the passing of Roger Brulotte, this event once again brings into focus the “inevitable transition” we will all face one day… 

Being an old man myself, I often wonder what my final moment on this journey on planet Earth will be like! Many of my friends have already passed away, but it’s better not to dwell too much on the end and instead enjoy the journey… 

We must live with the living and leave the dead in the company of the dead! 

Have a nice Spring 2026... 

SEE ROGER BRULOTTE’S BIOGRAPHY 

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/03/21/merci-pour-tout-rodger