--- title: "9/11 changed Canada's border approach, reports say" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/911-changed-canadas-border-approach-reports-say" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/911-changed-canadas-border-approach-reports-say" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/911-changed-canadas-border-approach-reports-say.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/911-changed-canadas-border-approach-reports-say" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-10T12:25:14.345Z" source_reported: "2026-09-10T09:36:32.000Z" updated: "2026-09-10T12:25:14.345Z" trust_score: 30 critic_score: 45 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-10T13:44:09.893Z" --- # 9/11 changed Canada's border approach, reports say *Pre-attack border crossings were informal for some residents, according to news digests.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 30 of 100, higher is better. The central claim rests on anonymous sourcing, with no named sources or documents provided. - Craft 45 of 100, higher is better. The digests provide a summary of the story but lack the depth of a full report. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The headline and digests use measured language, accurately reflecting the story's content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, individuals like Steven Backman could often cross the Canada-U.S. border with a simple wave from officials. - Backman, a resident of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, frequently travelled to Calais, Maine, a practice common among locals. - The informal border crossings, where officials might wave locals through after a brief visual check, were a feature of life before 9/11. - Following the 9/11 attacks, Canada's approach to national security and border control underwent significant changes. Before the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, Steven Backman, a resident of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, could typically cross the border into Calais, Maine, with little more than a wave from customs officials. This informal practice was common for many residents who frequently travelled between the two countries. Officials would often recognise locals and permit passage after a brief inspection. ## Coverage ## Omissions No right-rated reports covered this story. The digests from left and centre-rated outlets did not include specific details about the nature of the changes to Canada's national security approach after 9/11, beyond stating that such changes occurred. ## Who covered it Shares of the 22 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 64% (14) - Centre: 36% (8) - Right: 0% (0) 3 of 25 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-10T13:44:09.893Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-10T14:30:31.636Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Fourteen left-rated reports focused on the pre-9/11 ease of crossing the Canada-U.S. border. These digests noted that Steven Backman, like many residents of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, would travel frequently to Calais, Maine. They also highlighted that U.S. or Canadian customs officials would often wave locals through after a brief look. The reports stated that this informal system changed after the 9/11 attacks, altering Canada's approach to national security. ### Centre - Seven centre-rated reports also highlighted the pre-9/11 border crossing experiences. These digests mentioned Steven Backman's ability to cross the border with a simple wave and his frequent travel between St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and Calais, Maine. They noted that officials would often recognise locals and wave them through. The reports indicated that these practices changed following the 9/11 attacks, leading to shifts in Canada's national security posture. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 13 - unknown: 5 - veryHigh: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Wings Magazine](https://wingsmagazine.com/consequences-we-live-with-how-9-11-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [Castanet](https://castanet.net/news/Canada/630794/-Consequences-we-live-with-How-9-11-changed-Canada-s-approach-to-national-security) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [National Observer](https://nationalobserver.com/2026/09/10/news/consequences-we-live-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-our-national-security) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to our national security - [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/09/10/consequences-we-live-with-how-9-11-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security) — ‘Consequences we live with’: How 9/11 changed Canada’s approach to national security - [Narcity](https://narcity.com/9-11-transformed-canadas-approach-to-security) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [CFJC Today Kamloops](https://cfjctoday.com/2026/09/10/consequences-we-live-with-how-9-11-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security) — ‘Consequences we live with’: How 9/11 changed Canada’s approach to national security - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/canada/2026/09/10/consequences-we-live-with-how-9-11-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/politics/federal/consequences-we-live-with-how-9-11-changed-canada-s-approach-to-national-security/article_2ba21cb1-a3be-5863-8aa6-e57f4ac3870f.html) — ‘Consequences we live with’: How 9/11 changed Canada’s approach to national security - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [Collingwood Today](https://collingwoodtoday.ca/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [Thorold Today](https://thoroldtoday.ca/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/09/10/consequences-we-live-with-how-9-11-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security) — ‘Consequences we live with’: How 9/11 changed Canada’s approach to national security - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/national/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [Guelph Today](https://guelphtoday.com/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [ElliotLakeToday.com](https://elliotlaketoday.com/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [Loonie Politics](https://looniepolitics.com/consequences-we-live-with-how-9-11-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security) — ‘Consequences we live with’: How 9/11 changed Canada’s approach to national security - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/09/10/consequences-we-live-with-how-9-11-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [Timmins Today](https://timminstoday.com/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [thealbertan.com](https://thealbertan.com/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security - [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/09/10/consequences-we-live-with-how-9-11-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security) — ‘Consequences we live with’: How 9/11 changed Canada’s approach to national security - [flamboroughtoday.com](https://flamboroughtoday.com/national-news/consequences-we-live-with-how-911-changed-canadas-approach-to-national-security-12761874) — 'Consequences we live with': How 9/11 changed Canada's approach to national security ## Questions **How did border crossings work before 9/11?** Before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, border crossings between Canada and the U.S. were often informal for residents living near the border. People like Steven Backman could typically cross with a simple wave from officials who recognised them as locals. **What changed after 9/11?** The 9/11 attacks led to significant changes in Canada's approach to national security and border control. The informal crossing practices common before the attacks were altered, resulting in increased security measures. **Which news outlets covered this story?** Twenty-three news outlets, including National Observer, Battlefords NOW, Narcity, and The Toronto Star, published reports on how 9/11 changed Canada's border security approach. No right-rated outlets covered the story. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/911-changed-canadas-border-approach-reports-say. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "9/11 changed Canada's border approach, reports say", https://mediabias.news/politics/911-changed-canadas-border-approach-reports-say