I calculated weight and balance for 20 years for a major Canadian Airline. Why were the crew doing the final calculations at all. We would supply the final W & B info via data link giving the crew GTO, ZFW and C of G. It also sounds like Air France should take CRM more seriously. Didn't they have this problem once before??
As I understand it the system could not be disconnected. My first thought, like yours, was just revert to needle, ball and airspeed and fly the airplane.
If we assume that Transat does not have a ground handling contract in Ottawa then they would be obligated to pay an hourly rate for an Air Conditioning truck and have potable water boarded through another airline. My guess is that they simply didn't want to pay the extra cost.
I'm sorry to take exception to the wording "Too drunk to fly". I didn't realize there was a degree of drunkeness when it was acceptable to fly. Maybe I'm just being picky, but to a non-pilot it might sound like a few drinks are OK, just don't be "too drunk to fly.
As an X "rampee" I might propose one senario. The last of the bags have been loaded and his partner leaves to check if there are any more bags to be loaded. The "rampee" remains in the cargo hold and waits. While he is there an unsuspecting mail bag ends up under his head and he doses off. This doesn't sound like gross negligence. This sounds like a tired employee. I'm sure glad the gate agents and stews don't get tired!
