After experiencing less-than-ideal circumstances while travelling with Air Canada, Canada香蕉视频直播檚 Chief Accessibility Officer Stephanie Cadieux doesn香蕉视频直播檛 want the focus to remain on her experience, but rather, on the issue of accessible air travel.

Cadieux, who has used a wheelchair since she was 18, tweeted that Air Canada had left her wheelchair in Toronto rather than load it onto her flight to Vancouver last Friday, Oct. 20.

香蕉视频直播淲ell. @AirCanada left my chair in Toronto. I香蕉视频直播檓 now without my essential equipment. Independence taken away. I香蕉视频直播檓 furious. Unacceptable. #RightsOnFlights,香蕉视频直播� the former Surrey South MLA, who still lives in South Surrey, posted.

Well. left my chair in Toronto. I香蕉视频直播檓 now without my essential equipment. Independence taken away. I香蕉视频直播檓 furious. Unacceptable.

香蕉视频直播� Stephanie Cadieux (@Stephanie4BC)

Cadieux posted a statement on LinkedIn about her experience, saying she received an overwhelming response 香蕉视频直播� many sharing similar stories without such quick resolution 香蕉视频直播� noting that Air Canada responded to her on X, formerly known as Twitter, and that her wheelchair has since been returned.

香蕉视频直播淲hile I香蕉视频直播檓 glad I香蕉视频直播檝e been able to draw attention to this issue, I don香蕉视频直播檛 want the continued focus to be on my experience,香蕉视频直播� she said in the statement.

香蕉视频直播淢y job title as Chief Accessibility Officer should not influence the experience I have when I fly. Every person with a disability who entrusts their wheelchair to an airline should expect, and be granted the same service. We are all customers,香蕉视频直播� she said.

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香蕉视频直播淚 want everyone to understand that when a person香蕉视频直播檚 wheelchair is lost, so is their independence, safety, mobility, and dignity,香蕉视频直播� she continued.

Airlines do not treat these pieces of medical equipment as the essential extensions of individual香蕉视频直播檚 bodies that they are, Cadieux said.

香蕉视频直播淭he appropriate care and attention is not given and the result is situations like the one that happened to me on Friday. As it stands, the consequences for this neglect by the airlines are only felt by the person with the disability, who must fight to hold the airline accountable, often with little or no success. Airlines have to take responsibility and they have to do better.香蕉视频直播�

Air Canada apologized to Cadieux on X, noting 香蕉视频直播淎ccessibility is a priority,香蕉视频直播� for the airline and commiting to 香蕉视频直播渄o better.香蕉视频直播�

Cadieux has been speaking about the topic of accessible air travel a lot lately, she noted.

Later this week, she香蕉视频直播檚 heading to Chicago to attend an International Air Transport Association conference, and will be delivering a keynote address on the subject.

香蕉视频直播淭his is an important topic and it bears a lot more discussion, but urgent corrective action is also needed,香蕉视频直播� she wrote in her statement.

香蕉视频直播淚 travel a lot for my work and while my wheelchair has been damaged a number of times over the past year alone, this is the first time it didn香蕉视频直播檛 arrive at all. Rightfully, people expressed their dismay and outrage. Unfortunately, for people with disabilities this wasn香蕉视频直播檛 a big surprise.香蕉视频直播�

Calling the recent experience a 香蕉视频直播渧isceral reminder of why I do the work I do,香蕉视频直播� Cadieux noted that this is why so many advocates are always working so hard for change, and why it matters so much.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檒l continue to have conversations with the airlines and the air travel sector and I will continue to push for accessible air travel solutions for everyone,香蕉视频直播� she said in her statement.

香蕉视频直播淚t needs to change now.香蕉视频直播�