National summit today after passengers with disabilities mistreated by Canadian airlines

Federal ministers are holding a National Air Accessibility Summit in Ottawa Thursday in response to high-profile cases of passengers living with disabilities being mistreated while flying with Canadian carriers.

Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez and Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Minister Kamal Khera announced the summit in March and will host the Shaw Centre event.

CBC.ca will livestream the event beginning at 9 am. ET.

The summit will hear from airline representatives and the disability community. A government release said the discussions will address the effectiveness of regulations meant to ensure accessibility.

«All Canadians expect airlines to do a lot better in the way that they treat persons with disabilities,» Khera said Wednesday on her way into Parliament.

Airlines have taken heat in recent months over reports of passengers with disabilities being left to deplane without assistance, and of airlines misplacing vital equipment, such as wheelchairs.

Rodriguez told CBC News airlines are coming to the summit «in good faith to have those honest conversations.» He said he's looking for concrete solutions to a situation he called «not acceptable.»

Asked how he will ensure airlines fulfil their responsibilities, Rodriguez said Wednesday that «there could be penalties, it could be serious consequences. All of that will be decided after this summit.»

The CEOs of Canada's major airlines were called to appear before a parliamentary committee probing the state of accessible transportation.

The House of Commons transport committee held four meetings on the subject and will be delivering a draft report in the coming months.

WestJet chief executive officer Alexis von Hoensbroech apologized for the incidents in