David Collenette
Former Minister of National Defence of CanadaWikipedia
10
MENTIONS
6
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5
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Search complete. 10 mentions across 6 episodes found for "David Collenette".
Sep 11, 2026
Mike Le CouteurHOST
Now, before all of those people found refuge in places like Gander, someone had to give the order to land thousands, or I should say hundreds of planes that were about to enter Canadian airspace.
Mike Le CouteurHOST
Transport minister, David Collenette, made that call, and he did it without consulting then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, because it simply wasn't the time to do so.
Mike Le CouteurHOST
Earlier today, I spoke with Mr. Collenette about how Canada stepped up that day, and how the relationship with the US has evolved.
Mike Le CouteurHOST
Hi, Mr. Collenette.
9 MINS LATER
speaker_2UNKNOWN
[laughs]
Mike Le CouteurHOST
Okay, we're gonna leave it on that note.
Mike Le CouteurHOST
Former transport minister, David Collenette, thank you much- thank you very much for being with us today.
Mike Le CouteurHOST
I appreciate it.
Percy FarwellGUEST
We, we have Jean Chrétien coming, who, who was the prime minister at the time this all happened.
Percy FarwellGUEST
We have David Collenette, who was the minister of transport and oversaw Operation Yellow Ribbon when that all happened.
Percy FarwellGUEST
This- people like that are coming to see us.
Percy FarwellGUEST
The governor general will be here.
James CousineauHOST
The National Airspace System was officially shut down at 11:06 AM.
James CousineauHOST
David Collenette, Canada's transport minister, followed suit, grounding all flights in and out of Canadian airports.
James CousineauHOST
Canada's military took control of the skies, implementing the Emergency Security Control Act, or control of the air traffic plan, something usually reserved for only times of war.
James CousineauHOST
As these measures were being imposed, some 500 airplanes from around the world were en route to the United States.
Vassy KapelosHOST
So, uh, you're coming to us today very kindly, I should say, from Pearson Airport, and I was mentioning to you right before we came on air, a- if I recall correctly, and you told me it was correct, but during the attacks of 9/11, you were actually mid-flight.
Vassy KapelosHOST
You were Foreign Affairs Minister at the time, uh, as well as Deputy Prime Minister, and you were mid-flight, and you were granted special permission by then transport minister, David Collenette, to land at Pearson, where you find yourself today.
Vassy KapelosHOST
Do you remember that unfolding in crystal clear detail? Like, is, is it as, um, uh, is it as clear today as it was 25 years ago?
John ManleyGUEST
It, it's like it was yesterday, Vassy.
Steve PaikinHOST
We are devoting two programs to the world-changing events of 25 years ago on September 11th, 2001.
Steve PaikinHOST
Last week, we spoke with David Collenette, who was Canada's transport minister on 9/11, and gave the order to ground all flights with very few exceptions.
Steve PaikinHOST
Today, we'll talk to another former cabinet minister who was one of those exceptions, because he was in Europe on business as Canada's foreign minister when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center.
Steve PaikinHOST
On this episode of World on Edge, John Manley and Janice Stein on how the world changed after 9/11.
11 MINS LATER
Janice SteinGUEST
How did you land?
Steve PaikinHOST
... is coming back from Europe.
Steve PaikinHOST
It's, it has to land somewhere in Canada, except that his cabinet colleague, David Collenette, has already said, given the order, "No more planes landing.
Steve PaikinHOST
Um, and we're shutting down the airspace a- above Canada." So what happened then, John?
Steve PaikinGUEST
... private, small little plane went into the building accidentally." And, and, uh, and then of course 15 minutes later we knew that was absolutely not the case.
Steve PaikinGUEST
And the, the, uh, you know, this past, um, week or so on podcasts that I do, the Paikin Podcast, I had David Collenette on last week, who was the transport minister for Canada at the time, who had to make the decision.
Steve PaikinGUEST
He was actually in Montreal at the time giving a speech, and his staff passed him a quick note at 9:00 in the morning and said, "Wrap it up.
Steve PaikinGUEST
There's been a tragedy." And he suddenly, you know, on the drive back from...