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Associated Press

Standing in the town that sheltered thousands of stranded Americans after the September 11 attacks, former Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien marked the 25th anniversary on Friday with a pointed message for the US: “Never mistake our generosity for weakness.”
The 92-year-old former leader, who was prime minister at the time of the attacks, drew a standing ovation after telling his “American friends” that Canadians might be tolerant and kind but “we bow to no one”. US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra rose afterwards and hugged him.
“I say that not in anger, but as one friend to another,” Chretien said. “Friends need to be honest with each other.”
The unusually blunt remarks came during a solemn ceremony honouring the nearly 3,000 people killed in New York, at the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93, and remembering Gander’s extraordinary response to the attacks.
Gander, Newfoundland, opened its arms to nearly 6,600 airline passengers diverted there when the US government shut down airspace during September 11.

The remarks came at a striking moment in Canada-US relations. The long-time allies are embroiled in a trade war under US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly talked about making Canada the 51st US state.
Chretien recalled how Canada rallied behind the US after the attacks, when Americans were “our neighbours, our closest friends under attack”.
“It was a day when we saw the worst of humanity and the very best,” he said. Some of the very best, he said, happened in Gander.
On September 11, 2001, 38 planes carrying more than 6,500 passengers and crew were diverted to the small Newfoundland town after the US shut its airspace. The arrivals nearly doubled Gander’s population.
Residents in Gander and surrounding communities turned schools, churches and meeting halls into shelters, supplied food and medicine and welcomed strangers into their homes. The stranded travellers became known locally as the “plane people”.
American passenger Raphael Fusco, who was 17 when his flight from Milan to Newark was diverted to Newfoundland, said Gander left him with a different memory of September 11.
“So while the rest of the world was seeing these horrific images, we saw something very different,” he said. “We saw extraordinary kindness.”
“They also opened their hearts,” Chretien said. “Because that is what I call the Canadian way. When our friends are in trouble, we don’t hesitate. We act.”

Hoekstra also received applause as he thanked Gander and Canada for standing with Americans then and in the years since. “Thank you to the people of Gander. Thank you for your friendship,” he said.
Hoekstra called those who responded 25 years ago “extraordinary people doing extraordinary things”.
“Beds? Check. Food? Check. Medicine? Check. Roof over their head? Check,” he said. “You stood up. You did what was needed to be done.”
His warm reception was notable because Hoekstra’s participation had itself generated controversy. Gander officials defended inviting him after criticism of his planned appearance, saying his attendance did not amount to an endorsement of the Trump administration.
“September 11 is bigger than politics, personalities or titles,” the town said.
The story of what happened in Gander inspired the hit Broadway musical Come From Away, and passengers and residents have continued returning for reunions.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney used a campaign stop in Gander last year to say his nation was mourning “a friendship lost” with the United States.
Canada-US trade negotiations collapsed last month after Carney rejected proposed terms he said threatened Canadian sovereignty and key industries.
Washington imposed steep new tariffs, Canada retaliated this week and the Trump administration responded with additional restrictions on Canadian goods and access to US government contracts.

Against that backdrop, Chretien said Canada’s willingness to help should not be misread.
“Never mistake our tolerance for lack of determination,” he said. “And never, never mistake our kindness for softness.”
“Building a country like this, with this climate and this geography, is a sign of toughness, not of weakness,” Chretien said.
He recalled Canadians and Americans fighting together in Afghanistan after the attacks and the long history of the countries standing beside one another. Chretien noted that 165 Canadians died in Afghanistan, including 158 members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
“We embrace our friends and we help them in their moment of need, but we bow to no one,” Chretien said. “And the more we are insulted, threatened and abused, the more we will stand up for ourselves and stand united.”
Hoekstra, whose parents were liberated in the Netherlands by Allied forces that included Canadians during World War II, also invoked the countries’ history of shared sacrifice.
“We stood side by side,” he said.
Chretien ended not by rejecting that friendship but by calling for its restoration on terms Canada could accept.
“Respect, friendship and good neighbours,” he said. “Long live the United States and long live Canada.”


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Ex-Canada PM Jean Chretien tells US: ‘never mistake our generosity for weakness’

Former Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien speaks at the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US in Gander, Newfoundland, on Friday. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

People look at a memorial during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in Gander, Newfoundland, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Doris MacDougall, a visitor from Vancouver, views the 9/11 Community Mosaic Mural in the foyer of the Gander International Airport on Friday. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra and his wife, Diane, pose in front of a “Come From Away” quilt, handmade by local women, as they arrive at Gander International Airport on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

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Flowers are left at the memorial during the 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11 attacks in New York on Friday. Photo: AFP

A girl places items on the memorial during a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks  in New York on Friday. Photo: Reuters

US President Donald Trump attends a ceremony at the Pentagon to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Friday. Photo: AP

People visit the memorial during a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York on Friday. Photo: Reuters

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United States & Canada

His pointed message was issued in Gander, the Canadian town that sheltered thousands of stranded Americans after the September 11 attacks


His pointed message was issued in Gander, the Canadian town that sheltered thousands of stranded Americans after the September 11 attacks.


Ex-Canada PM Jean Chretien tells US: ‘never mistake our generosity for weakness’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}His pointed message was issued in Gander, the Canadian town that sheltered thousands of stranded Americans after the September 11 attacks

His pointed message was issued in Gander, the Canadian town that sheltered thousands of stranded Americans after the September 11 attacks