Cancer Survivor Loses Bid for Compensation Over Mask Mandate After Canadian Transportation Agency Sides With WestJet

A disabled WestJet Airlines passenger barred from boarding due to the COVID-19 mask mandate has been denied compensation after the Canadian Transportation Agency ruled the airline had no choice but to enforce the mandate, despite the passenger’s doctor’s note. Cancer survivor Christopher Basaraba filed an application with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), seeking damages after he had to rent a car and drive 740 kilometres to keep an “important medical appointment” following the airline’s decision, according to the agency’s ruling. The Fort McMurray, Alta., resident booked an April 3, 2022, flight to Calgary for a medical appointment the following day, CTA documents show. Basaraba had a doctor’s note stating he could not wear a mask due to “reduced lung function” from cancer surgery....