Canada's leaders scramble to respond as U.S. terror attacks unfold

On the morning the first aircraft hit the World Trade Center, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was working from his residence and, after being informed, chose not to call the U.S. president, instead contacting the American ambassador to convey Canada’s willingness to help. At the same time, Transport Minister David Collenette was delivering a speech at an international airport conference in Montreal when the second strike on the South Tower was announced; he abandoned the event and drove toward Ottawa, learning that the U.S. had shut its skies.

Collenette and his deputy Margaret Bloodworth then faced the challenge of managing incoming flights and thousands of passengers, devising a plan to land them at remote Canadian airports. Their coordination effort, overseen by the Situation Center, became known as Operation Yellow Ribbon. Throughout the day, officials also investigated a possible link to the Algerian militant Ahmed Ressam, but found no connection. Chrétien later addressed Parliament, offering condolences and pledging cooperation with the United States.