‘I’m furious’: Chief accessibility officer’s wheelchair left in Toronto by Air Canada flight
Canada’s chief accessibility officer says her wheelchair was left in Toronto after she boarded an Air Canada flight over the weekend, describing the experience as “unacceptable.”
Stephanie Cadieux said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the airline had forgotten her wheelchair. She posted a photo of herself waiting in front of an Air Canada service desk in a replacement wheelchair.
Cadieux left Toronto on Friday and arrived at the Vancouver airport without her wheelchair.
“I’m now without my essential equipment,” Cadieux said. “Independence taken away. I’m furious. Unacceptable.”
Cadieux is Canada’s first chief accessibility officer, having been appointed in May 2022. She was a member of B.C.’s legislature from 2009 to 2022 and has held several ministerial positions.
Air Canada told Cadieux in a response on X that it is “certainly not the level of service we strive to provide” and asked for more information.
Several hours later, Air Canada said on X again that her wheelchair was expedited and in transit.
“We’re deeply sorry and want to discuss this with you. Accessibility is a priority; we’re investigating internally as part of our commitment to do better,” the airline wrote.
Hello Stephanie, your chair has been expedited and in transit; we're deeply sorry and want to discuss this with you. Accessibility is a priority; we're investigating internally as part of our commitment to do better.
/Laura
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) <a href=«https://twitter.com/AirCanada/status/1715772619226571205?ref_src=» https:>October 21, 2023
In an updated statement, Cadieux said since posting about her experience on social media she has received an overwhelming response.
“Not surprisingly to me, many of the responses to my tweet were from
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