The New Policies of Air Canada, And The Bigger Problems That Come With It.

Orignial URL: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1dBYkdsKT2/

By Christopher Froess

Owner & Head Trainer, Kairo’s K9s Training

I have spent the last several days going through Air Canada’s Cabin-Ready Canines documents line by line.

Not the announcement.

Link: https://www.aircanada.com/.../air-canada-launches...

Not the comments.Not what people think it says.

The actual forms.

Link: Links to Archive

And the more I read, the more I think people need to understand something:

This is not just a public access test, and it doesnt just apply to Ontario and Quebec.

On the surface, it looks familiar.

Service dog must be trained. Handler must have a disability. Dog must perform disability-related tasks. Dog must be safe in public.

Fine. None of that is new or shocking. However,

Airlines are federally regulated, and the Canadian Transportation Agency already says carriers may require confirmation that a service dog has been trained by an organization or person specializing in service dog training. That part is not new.

But the documents I received go much further than “prove your dog is trained.”

They make you jump through hoops if your not ADI or IGDF certified or covered by a provincial public access test.

So, if your flying Air Canada from:

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Newbrunswick

P.E.I

Newfoundland

Yukon

Northwest Territories

Nunavut.

Or any other country, and don't have a dog through these 2 organizations.

This applies to you.

And that is where I have a problem.

The overview says this information is being used to determine eligibility for a service dog to travel on Air Canada-operated flights only. It also says testing is required every two years, and if the team passes, they receive an ID card that must be provided when booking and boarding.

That is not just a travel form.

That is an airline-specific certification system.

And once one airline builds that system, other airlines and large companies are going to be watching.

And thats a HUGE problem that not enough people are talking about.

What Is Not New

Let’s be fair.

Some of this is not new.

Vaccination records are not new.

Veterinary health information is not new.

Proof of disability is not new. (More on this later)

Task training is not new

.A dog being under control is not new.

Airlines asking for documentation is not new.

I am not arguing against standards. I am not arguing against legitimate documentation. I am not arguing against accountability.

I flew Kairo to Hawaii. I know what paperwork looks like. I know what real travel requirements look like. I know what it feels like to have every signature, every date, and every document matter.

That is not my issue.

My issue is what appears to be new, what appears to go beyond basic travel safety, and what this could turn into if other airlines copy it.

It's time to dive in. Deep breaths. Grab a coffee, grab a snack. Let's go through this together.

New Problem One: Liability Insurance

This is one of the biggest red flags.

The overview says all dogs must have liability insurance, with a copy of the policy required.

Then the flight application asks for the insurance provider, policy number, amount of liability insurance, expiry date, phone number, and insurer email.

Why?

Seriously.

Why?

If the dog is being tested for behaviour, control, stability, and task work, why is liability insurance now part of the eligibility conversation?

That is not a public access skill.

That is not task training.

That is not temperament.

That is not whether the dog can tuck under a seat, ignore distractions, or work safely in an airport.

That is risk management.

And risk management is not the same thing as accessibility.

A lot of legitimate handlers do not carry separate liability insurance for their service dogs. Some may have coverage through home insurance. Some may not. Some may not even know how to obtain it.

Some may not be insurable depending on where they live, what breed they have, or how an insurance company classifies the dog.

So now what?

A legitimate disabled handler with a trained service dog could be blocked before the dog is ever assessed because they do not have the right insurance paperwork.

That is not stopping fake service dogs.

That is creating a financial barrier.

And an administrative nightmare for anyone trying to police this.

New Problem Two: Air Canada-Specific ID

The documents say that once a team passes, they will receive an ID card that must be provided when booking flights and boarding.

Again, this is Air Canada only.

Not national.

Not provincial.

Not all airlines.

Air Canada. ONLY

So a disabled handler could go through the paperwork, pay the fee, complete the test, receive the ID, and still only have something useful inside one company’s system.

Ah yes, I love useless cards. I still have my Blockbuster card from the 90's. I don't have room for my business cards.. but I have this, cause it makes me feel special and does functionally nothing for me, it's only good at one location, but I digress.

I already lost my passport once. What's one more thing for me to remember when packing?

That matters because Saskatchewan Human Rights says there is no official government-recognized certification or registration process in Saskatchewan, and handlers are not required to carry proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed, and presenting one is nothing more than misinformation for the next person, and may be considered illegal depending on your interpretation of the code.

Link: https://saskhrc.ca/.../policie.../policy-on-service-animals/

So Saskatchewan handlers are stuck in the middle.

Provincially, no official certification exists.

Federally, airlines can ask for certain documents.

Now Air Canada is creating its own credential.

Hurray.

And we all know someone is going to flash that when they try to go into a restaurant.

People are already stupid enough to fall for online registries, which aren't legal.

What happens when we give them a card, that is actually usable like a "Buy one get one free" coupon at Wendy's?

We all know at least one person is going to try to use it at Burger King and:

A) Fool the staff that this is actually required now

B) Piss everyone off in the area because other teams that don't fly with Air Canada don't have the "magic ID" to produce.

(And yes, this actually happens. Someone showed an ID they purchased online to a local grocery store, and I had to spend a better part of an hour educating the staff, that no, this wasn't actually legal... fun times.)

New Problem Three: Mandatory Recertification Every Two Years

The overview says testing is required every two years, and the flight application repeats that once you pass, you need to re-test every two years.

On paper, some people will say, “That seems reasonable.”

Maybe. It's following a structured protocol like provincial testing...

But now add the real-world cost.

Testing fee.

Travel. (Which, we may not be able to fly to achieve, more on this later)

Hotel.

Transportation.

Time off work.

Vet forms.

Doctor forms.

Insurance documents.

Renewal fees.

And for handlers outside Ontario and Quebec, potentially travelling across the country every two years to maintain access to one airline.

Accessibility barriers rarely show up as one giant wall.

They show up as a hundred little steps.

And eventually, people stop being able to climb them, especially when you factor in the financial cost.

New Problem Four: Training Equipment Restrictions

This is the section that really bothers me as a trainer.

The instructions list allowed equipment:

guide or mobility harness

flat collar

cloth martingale collar (oddly specific)

Halti or gentle leader

and a 4 to 6 foot leash.

It also says treats are allowed only as a reward after the exercise is completed, cannot be used as a lure, and peanut, fish, or raw treats are not allowed during the exam.

(Does the evaluator have an allergy? This is oddly specific.)

Now let me ask the other obvious question.

Why does it matter what fucking collar the dog is wearing?

If the dog is safe, neutral, under control, and performing the work, why is Air Canada or its contracted testing pathway getting involved in equipment choices?

A proper public access test should evaluate outcomes.

Can the dog work safely?

Can the dog remain neutral?

Can the dog ignore distractions?

Can the dog task?

Can the handler maintain control?

Can the team move through the environment without creating a problem?

That is what matters.

Not whether the dog is wearing the evaluator’s preferred collar.

The moment a private program starts restricting equipment, we are no longer just testing whether the dog can safely fly.

We are drifting into training philosophy.

And that is a very different conversation.

Because handlers use different equipment for different reasons.

Mobility needs.

Medical needs.

Strength differences.

Dog size.

Handler disability.

Training history.

Some handlers may need equipment that gives them better physical control. Some may need a specific setup because of hand weakness, balance issues, tremors, pain, or mobility limitations.

So when a document says only certain equipment is allowed, I want to know who decided that and why.

Because if the dog is safe, the handler is in control, and the team can do the job, the collar should not be the issue.

The issue should be performance.

Not ideology.

New Problem Five: The Program Wants Training History In Detail

The flight application asks handlers to describe the dog’s training history with as much detail as possible, including goals, whether those goals were met, handler involvement, assessment methods, and assessment results. It asks for training dates, total training hours, trainer information, trainer credentials, and supporting documents such as training logs, curriculum, homework, certificates, and ID cards.

Some of that makes sense.

But again, where does the line sit?

Are we testing the dog in front of us?

Or are we auditing years of training history?

Because those are not the same thing.

A dog could have messy paperwork and excellent skills.

A dog could have beautiful paperwork and terrible public access.

As a trainer, I care about the dog in front of me.

Can the dog do the work?

Can the handler manage the dog?

Can the team function safely?

That should be the core question.

Documentation can support that. It should not replace that.

New Problem Six: Medical Disclosure Goes Deep

The physician form does not simply ask whether the handler has a disability and needs a service dog.

It asks for primary diagnosis, secondary diagnosis, whether the disability is long-term, whether symptoms are stable, and asks the medical practitioner to list three tasks or behaviours the dog could perform to mitigate the disability.

It also includes consent language allowing release of the medical report and all past or future reports related to the handler’s requirement for a service dog to Air Canada.

That is not nothing.

That is private medical information moving into an airline-specific certification process.

I understand confirming disability-related need.

I understand confirming task work.

But we need to be very careful when private transportation systems start collecting deeper medical information than people may realize they are handing over.

Because again, this is not a government standard.

This is an Air Canada pathway.

(Also. My poor doctor may have a stroke trying to fill out the amount of documentation your requiring, But. Hey. Air Canada, if you wanna know about my secondary diagnosis or hereditary hairloss in the future. Go ahead and give him a ring. I'm sure our medical system can handle the extra bureaucracy.)

New Problem Seven: The Dog Must Be Spayed Or Neutered

The overview and flight application both state dogs must be spayed or neutered.

Some programs have this rule. Some people will not care.

But from a public access standpoint, I have questions.

Does being intact automatically make a dog unsafe?

No.

Does being altered automatically make a dog suitable?

Also no.

Public access should be behaviour-based.

If the concern is behaviour, test behaviour.

If the concern is safety, test safety.

But a blanket reproductive-status requirement excludes dogs before they ever demonstrate what they can do.

That is not the same as evaluating the team.

New Problem Eight: Geography

This is the one that will hit hardest for Saskatchewan handlers.

Right now, Saskatchewan has no provincial public access testing program.

No provincial service dog certification.

No government-recognized service dog ID.

Saskatchewan Human Rights confirms there is no official government-recognized certification or registration process, and handlers are not required to carry proof of certification, training, or licensing.

So if Air Canada recognizes some provincial certifications, but your province has none, what happens?

You get pushed into the private or other provinces pathway.

And if that pathway is only practically accessible in certain regions, your rights start depending on your postal code.

That is not accessibility.

That is geography deciding who gets to travel.

And then as an added bonus, if the certification pathway that you are offering is only available in two provinces, Please tell me how exactly i'm supposed to get there from Saskatchewan?

According to your policy, I can't fly.

So what you want me to drive there?

What if I can't drive?

Should I take a flight on one of your competitors?

Because the way the stands now if I can board a plane on one of your competitors without having to do any of this shit,

Why would I just not do that?

New Problem Nine: The Slippery Slope

This is bigger than Air Canada.

Once one major airline creates a private certification pathway, other carriers will watch.

WestJet will watch.

Porter will watch.

International airlines will watch.

Hotels will watch.

Cruise lines will watch.

Venues will watch.

And then what?

Different companies.

Different forms.

Different IDs.

Different insurance requirements.

Different equipment rules.

Different testing cycles.

Different private evaluators.

Different definitions of “acceptable.”

That is how accessibility slowly becomes privatized.

Not overnight.

Piece by piece.

Policy by policy.

Form by form.

And by the time people realize what happened, disabled handlers are no longer navigating rights.

They are navigating corporate rulebooks.

And I don't know about you, but I would much rather not have seventeen IDs for my dog in my pocket.

You might not think that that's what's gonna happen.. but, it will if we don’t intervene now.

I'll reiterate once more.

Air Canada did not create the fake service dog problem.

Fake service dogs are real.

Poorly trained dogs are real.

Fraud is real.

I have said that for years.

But half-built solutions can hurt legitimate people.

This program may be intended to expand access, but the documents show a system that does more than test whether a dog can safely fly.

It adds insurance.

It adds Air Canada-specific ID.

It adds recurring certification.

It adds equipment restrictions.

It adds deeper medical disclosure.

It adds training-history review.

It adds geographic barriers.

And it does all of that through a private pathway, run by one buisness most of us have never heard of until June 2, 2026.

That is the problem.

The problem only has one answer.

The answer is legislation.

Real legislation.

Provincial and federal.

Legislation that recognizes owner-trained dogs.

Legislation that sets meaningful public access standards.

Legislation that protects legitimate handlers.

Legislation that gives businesses clarity.

Legislation that deals with fraud.

Legislation that does not force disabled Canadians into private systems because governments failed to do their jobs.

Because if we let private companies become the standard-setters, Air Canada will not be the end of this conversation.

It will be the beginning.

I support standards.

I support public access testing.

I support accountability.

I support consequences for fraudulent service dog representation.

But I do not support accessibility rights being shaped one airline policy at a time.

The first domino is placed.

Where will you be when the rest fall?

Christopher Froess

Owner & Head TrainerKairo’s K9s TrainingScience-based, relationship-first dog training | Saskatoon & area

info@kairosk9s.ca | www.kairosk9s.ca