Canada’s taxpayer-funded national broadcaster is facing growing backlash after an internal memo instructed journalists not to describe the 11 September attacks as ‘terrorist attacks’, weeks before the 25th anniversary of the atrocity.
The CBC News guidance, written by Senior Director of Journalistic Standards and Public Trust Basem Boshra, told reporters and editors: ‘Do not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks.’ It instead instructed staff to say that the hijackings ‘led to passenger jet crashes’ in Washington, DC, Pennsylvania and Manhattan, according to the memo, first reported by the Toronto Sun.
The directive triggered immediate criticism in Canada. Conservative MP Rachael Thomas called it ‘absolutely shameful’, accusing CBC of ‘choosing to redefine terrorism in a way that downplays the atrocity of 9/11’. She said refusing to use the term dishonoured the victims, survivors and first responders. Liberal MP Anthony Housefather also criticized CBC, calling on its leadership to ensure that it continues to describe 11 September as a terrorist attack.
The controversy also triggered backlash in the United States. Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah responded: ‘Maybe we shouldn’t call Canada a “friendly country”,’ while Republican Representative Lisa McClain of Michigan urged CBC to ‘say the word terrorism’. The official House Republicans account also questioned the broadcaster’s decision to avoid the term for what it called the worst terrorist attack on American soil.
CBC’s controversial practice comes at a moment when US–Canada relations have become especially volatile. Trade negotiations collapsed last week, after which President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods. Ottawa announced retaliatory tariffs on more than 700 US products, worth about $20 billion, beginning on 8 September, while Trump has threatened further 50 per cent duties on Canadian vehicles, auto parts and steel. Trump also signed an executive order on 27 August directing that Lake Ontario be renamed ‘Lake America’.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has accused Washington of attempting to ‘subordinate’ Canada and dismantle key Canadian industries.
Reacting to the widespread backlash, CBC said the 9/11 instruction was unrelated to the current bilateral confrontation and reflected a longstanding editorial policy rather than a new position. Public Affairs Director Kerry Kelly said CBC exercises ‘extreme caution’ with the terms ‘terrorist’ and ‘terrorism’ and generally prefers them to be attributed to authorities or other sources.
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