Air Canada says it violated disability act after passenger in wheelchair forced to drag himself off flight
CBC
Air Canada has issued an apology to a man who uses a wheelchair, saying it violated Canadian disability legislation when he was forced to drag himself off a flight because of a lack of available assistance.
Rodney and Deanna Hodgins of Prince George, B.C. were travelling to Las Vegas from Vancouver on August 30 when an Air Canada crew member told the Hodgins he would need to get to the front of the plane without any assistance.
Rodney, who has cerebral palsy and uses a motorized wheelchair, usually exits the plane with the help of an aisle chair, a narrow version of a wheelchair.
Rodney, 50, dragged himself through the aisle to the front of the plane by pulling on seat legs, with Deanna crawling behind him, moving his legs.
WATCH | Hodgins plans to keep fighting for passenger rights:
The incident, which caused Rodney significant pain, garnered national and international attention.
Beenish Awan, a representative with Air Canada, sent the Hodgins a lengthy statement, which read in part, "it was a very inconvenient and humiliating experience for both of you. I am genuinely sorry to hear about your and your husband's experience and offer my sincere apologies for the experience.
"Based on the information we currently have available; we have to regrettably admit that Air Canada was in violation of the disability regulations. I reiterate my genuine apologies for disappointing you."
The airline also offered the couple $2,000 in flight credits.
Deanna Hodgins said the admission of wrongdoing represented "a victory."
"To admit you're wrong, that's what we wanted. Now we just want to see change. Because you can say sorry, but you have to institute change to be sorry."
The Las Vegas incident with the Hodgins was also discussed in Parliament, with NDP MP for Port Moody-Coquitlam, Bonita Zarillo, calling what happened to Rodney "degrading and a violation of human rights."
Canada's Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez responded, saying he was "horrified" by how Rodney was treated by Air Canada.
"Persons with disabilities deserve equal rights and access when travelling and Canadians expect Air Canada to do better. Much, much better," he said.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
Nova Scotia's commanding RCMP officer says the Mounties are well positioned to take on a bigger role in the province, two years after a public inquiry identified serious failures in its response to the April 2020 mass shooting and called for major improvements.
Under New Brunswick rules, the public can be kept in the dark when their local officials face discipline — an approach far less open than one adopted next door in Nova Scotia.
Two teenage boys have been arrested in connection with rock-throwing incidents last fall, the Ontario Provincial Police says.
Montreal has been faced with record-breaking heat already this summer, and heat waves have been known to kill dozens of people in the city as people swelter in their residences without air conditioning.
It's been over 50 years since Brian Anderson was convicted of a murder he didn't commit, almost two since his name was finally cleared and about 14 months since he sued all three levels of government in hopes of getting compensated for everything he lost — but after all that time, he says neither he nor his co-accused have seen a cent.
A "devastating" fire has jeopardized a non-profit club's ability to host the Saskatchewan Winter Games.
Regina police are asking for help to find a mother and daughter who haven't been seen in more than two weeks.
Edmonton's city council will consider adding restrictions aimed at preventing people from unwittingly seeing flyers with graphic imagery.
The mayor of a small B.C. town on the Alaska border is sounding the alarm because she says her community doesn't have access to ambulance service — and she doesn't know when it's coming back.
With the renewed focus on the threats of nuclear weapons, Setsuko Thurlow feels we are walking through "a very dark time."
Windsor police have arrested a 74-year–old suspect in a "historic child sexual assault" case for a second time after he allegedly violated bail conditions while awaiting extradition to the U.S.
As the Calgary Stampede kicks off, health experts are warning about the risk of measles exposure and are urging parents with babies and unimmunized children — along with other vulnerable Albertans — to sit this one out.
An unhealthy municipal water system in the Bell Island community of Wabana is slowly being rid of contaminants like arsenic, manganese and iron, with 150 households being removed this week from a quarter-century-old boil order.