We have had 2 similar incidents with A/C. Few years back air canada wouldn't fly out of edmonton for our Jamaican flight due to cold, yet west jet flew out 30 minutes later that same night. Then in 2014, leaving montego also our flight was delayed. Didn't leave til 3 hours after our departure time, never giving us a reason, just bumping departure times every half hour or so. Finally arrive in Toronto and they say, tough luck you have missed your transfer to Edmonton. Same thing shuttle us off to a hotel and then get us out next day. All of it with little to no communication or compassion when you were able to talk to someone.
Crappy part is it's air canada and west jet only and no direct flights available in December when we leave for Negril in December. We try to use west jet but sometimes price does have to come into play. This year it will be west jet if we can!