I had a 014 Aeroplan ticket solely on ☆A partner airlines in a market not served by AC and at about t- 60 a flight was canceled. The options I saw to replace it when doing a regular Aeroplan search were all not suitable. But by breaking the trip into 2 legs with a MCT meeting connection I found a suitable itinerary. My first Aeroplan agent told me that she can only give me the options the system displays for origin to destination routing and she cannot put together another itinerary combining flights. HUCA. Then checked with two concierges who both told me that AC will not protect me and it is the responsibility of the ☆A operator who cancelled to protect. HUCA times two. Finally I found a 2am EDT Aeroplan agent who happily took my suggested itinerary and ticketed it in 2 minutes. Who was right and who was lazy or broke official policy?
1 and 2 were right, 3 broke policy.
Cancellations at T-60 are absolutely the responsibility of the operating airline.