SNC-Lavalin CEO delays planned speech primarily in English

Ian Edwards told the Canadian Club of Montreal that he wants to delay his speech so he can add more content in French.

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The CEO of engineering giant SNC-Lavalin postponed a speech he planned to deliver at the Canadian Club of Montreal in the wake of news reports that he planned to give a speech primarily in English, according to a La Presse Report .

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Ian Edwards, who has lived in Montreal for seven years, sent a letter to the organization that represents business leaders in the country, saying he wants to spend more time practicing his presentation and ensuring there is more content in French.

Edwards, who was named to the top job in October 2019, was due to speak next Monday. He had received criticism from various commentators after reports emerged that he was planning to deliver a speech at the Canadian Club of Montreal that did not have much, if any, French content.

The report came to light after Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau delivered a speech in English last week at the Montreal Chamber of Commerce and later said he was able to live 14 years in the city without speaking French and that he had no time to learn the language.

Rousseau apologized, but the incident sparked a storm of backlash from political circles.