Canada’s Secret Role in 9/11 | Calgary News

When 9/11 struck, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien initially mistook the first plane crash for an accident—until the second hit confirmed it was a terror attack. Advised against calling President Bush immediately, he instead contacted the U.S. ambassador to assure Canada’s unwavering support. Meanwhile, Transport Minister David Collenette, in Montreal, swiftly shut down Canadian airspace—a bold, unilateral move that became the cornerstone of Operation Yellow Ribbon. With nearly 240 diverted flights and 30,000 stranded passengers, Canada mobilized airports, communities, and agencies to shelter and care for them. Amid fears of terrorist links—especially to Ahmed Ressam—no connection was found, but anxieties lingered. Though Canada opened its doors with heroic coordination, U.S. officials largely ignored their role, leaving Canadian leaders quietly frustrated. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ade8dba6faa730a1