After Criticism, Canada’s CBC Changes Policy On Calling 9/11 Attacks ‘Terrorism’

Canada’s public broadcaster CBC/Radio Canada has changed its policy on describing specific attacks as terrorism, making an exception for the September 11, 2001 attacks after facing strong criticism in Canada and the United States.

CBC said Friday that direct attribution will no longer be required when describing the 9/11 attacks as terrorism. The change followed reports of an internal memo reminding journalists ahead of the attacks’ 25th anniversary not to refer to September 11 as a terrorist attack unless the description was attributed to another source.

Basem Boshra, CBC’s senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, said the exception was being made to remove what had become an “impediment to clarity and public understanding.” He stressed that CBC had never claimed 9/11 was not terrorism, saying its journalists had accurately reported the reasons and motivations behind the attacks based on findings from authorities and an independent commission.

The controversy erupted after Toronto Sun columnist Warren Kinsella reported on the memo. The policy drew sharp criticism from FBI Director Kash Patel, US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, Republican lawmakers and Canada’s Conservative Party. Patel accused CBC of distorting history, while Hoekstra warned that failing to confront terrorist ideologies could undermine US Canada security cooperation.

Canadian Culture Minister Marc Miller welcomed the reversal, calling the earlier guidance “pedantic and foolish.” Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Canada has always recognised 9/11 as the deadliest terrorist attack in history and condemned terrorism in all forms.

CBC said its broader policy remains unchanged. For new acts of politically or ideologically motivated violence, journalists will continue to attribute descriptions such as “terrorist” or “terrorism” to officials and experts. The broadcaster says this approach is shared by organisations including the BBC, AP, AFP and Reuters.

The controversy comes as CBC prepares extensive coverage for the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Separately, a US military judge has thrown out alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s 2007 confession, ruling that it was not made voluntarily. His trial, along with three co defendants, is scheduled for June 2028.