Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the media on Friday, the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Mr. Carney expressed solidarity with Americans.Todd Korol/Reuters
Prime Minister Mark Carney honoured the thousands of victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks in a sombre statement Friday morning, paying tribute to the everyday heroes who met hatred with humanity.
As the world marked the 25th anniversary of the day hijackers crashed planes into New York’s twin towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania, Mr. Carney set aside the current acrimony between Ottawa and Washington.
“Twenty-five years on, our grief has not faded – and neither has our resolve to stand against hatred and terrorism,” Mr. Carney said in a written statement.
“Canadians stand with our American neighbours in mourning, remembrance, and solidarity.”
Mr. Carney and his cabinet are huddled in Banff, Alta., as they hammer out an agenda for the fall sitting of the House of Commons and regroup after a chaotic summer on the trade front. Last month, the Prime Minister said the country was at “war” with the U.S. after the Trump administration imposed new tariffs and escalated the trade war.
On his way to the second day of the two-day cabinet retreat, a visibly emotional Prime Minister stopped briefly to speak with reporters about the anniversary.
The Prime Minister delivered a shortened version of his written statement to camera, but took no questions from reporters.
He remembered the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks, including 24 Canadians. And he paid homage to the more than 40,000 Canadians who served in the ensuing war in Afghanistan and the 158 Canadian Forces members who were killed, along with a journalist, diplomat and two aid workers.
“That morning showed us what hatred can destroy. The hours, the days, and the years that followed showed us something stronger. The worst of times brought forth our better natures,” the Prime Minister said in his statement.
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Mr. Carney has close ties to Wall Street. At the time of the terrorist attacks, he worked at Goldman Sachs, which was headquartered near the twin towers. The company said none of its employees were killed in the strikes, but many of their family members and friends were.
“We will never forget those who never came home, the courage of those who ran toward the danger, and the small acts of kindness that brought light to the darkest of days,” the Prime Minister said in his statement.
“And may we never forget that, 25 years on, the truest tribute is to serve – to look after the stranger amongst us simply because help is needed.”
He said the people of Gander, N.L., who welcomed thousands of displaced airline passengers in the aftermath of the attacks, exemplified that humanity and generosity.
“In Gander, the population almost doubled with strangers who were given a bed, a hot meal, and a phone call home – asked nothing in return,” Mr. Carney said in remarks to reporters.
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon also offered condolences and remembrance in their brief statements to reporters.
Mr. LeBlanc said he had been in touch with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday. Mr. Lutnick ran a firm in the twin towers and his brother was among the more than 600 employees who were killed.
“He has talked to me often about what that meant for him and his family,” Mr. LeBlanc said. “So I sent him a message to say I was thinking about him.”