Canada

Canada-U.S. ties 'so much stronger' than trade war divisions, Manitoba premier says ahead of 9/11 anniversary

Shared history reminds us 'the maple leaf and the stars and stripes will always be neighbours': Wab Kinew

As the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks approaches during an ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada, Manitoba's premier says the timing is a "poignant" reminder of the two countries' shared history — on that day and beyond.

"As Canadians, we know that we were there in the immediate aftermath to keep people safe — Gander, N.L., comes to mind. We know that our first responders helped to join the rescue efforts in New York, as well as other locations," Wab Kinew said at an unrelated news conference Thursday afternoon.

"And importantly, Canadians in uniform laid down their lives in huge numbers in Afghanistan, as part of a global war on terror in response to 9/11."

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the al-Qaeda attacks when hijackers slammed planes into the World Trade Center in New York and crashed into the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.

Kinew said the tragic anniversary coming as Canada and the U.S. remain locked in a trade dispute helps serve as a reminder "that the maple leaf and the stars and stripes will always be neighbours — will always be allies."

"And while we may have our differences from time to time, those are probably more like the differences that you see between siblings than between foes," he said.

How Gander, N.L., took care of ‘the plane people’ on 9/11

The premier urged people to gather Friday to honour what happened on 9/11 and "the Canadian men and women and people in uniform who laid down their lives in the aftermath to fight in the name of freedom, and to fight against terrorism."

"While we may have those trade disputes revive in the days following, let's just remember that the ties that bind are so much stronger than any force that would try to divide."

Caitlyn Gowriluk has been writing for CBC Manitoba since 2019. Her work has also appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press, and in 2021 she was part of an award-winning team recognized by the Radio Television Digital News Association for its breaking news coverage of COVID-19 vaccines. Get in touch with her at caitlyn.gowriluk@cbc.ca.