Thanks for the input everyone. I am currently in YVR and I'll follow this up with AC customer relations once I get home. I'll report back with what the compensation, if any, ends up being.

Let me address a couple of questions that came up.

I did clue in on the specific wording around a valid ticket in the IDB rules which is why I was questioning if this would qualify. The flight I was booked on was oversold which is why the check-in agent couldn't put me back on. I will probably stick with the term when dealing with customer relations as a starting point simply because I did present at my original check in point with a valid ticket and at YYZ on time and in compliance with the rules. AC had cancelled my ticket in the interim and wasn't able to accomodate me on that flight or any sooner than a 26 hour delay because of overbooking. I suspect that's probably my strongest negotiating position to start though it may be rejected out of hand.

The route I took was the first option I was offered. Most other flights were apparently running -9 to -12 into overbooking. The airport agent fought with ticketing to get them to oversell me into J on the flight they put me on. Ticketing initially said they wouldn't be able to get me home till Tuesday or Wednesday. The 26 hour delay with the reroute was the shortest I could find; I was interested in getting home as soon as possible.

I was put up overnight at the airport Marriott and given $30 in meal vouchers. I also asked for and was given a WiFi voucher so I could work onboard from YYZ-YVR.

I was told AC wouldn't have accepted my bag overnight anyways and if the agent in PUJ would have left the original tag on there, I would have kept the bag after collecting it in customs anyways. Live and learn I guess.

I'm generally pretty patient and easy going. I certainly recognize it wasn't the fault of anyone at YYZ and they were just trying to help me. I get the impression that my accommodating and conciliatory attitude was represented in the file notes because the agent who took my bag this morning and got me my WiFi voucher was very apologetic about the situation. That is pure speculation.

On another note, I barely made the flight this morning. I was there 2 hours in advance and morning security at Pearson was savage. The Nexus line was queued up well back into the priority check-in area.