OTTAWA — CBC/Radio-Canada is changing its language policy to state that direct attribution will no longer be required when describing 9/11 as an act of “terrorism.”

The decision comes after CBC came under fire over its long-standing policy of not labelling specific attacks as terrorism, which it restated in a memo to staff ahead of the 25^th anniversary of Sept. 11.

The director of the FBI, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, Republican members of Congress and the Conservative party all criticized the CBC following media reports about a memo that reminded journalists of its policy.

Basem Boshra, senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, said in a blog post late Friday afternoon that CBC would make the change.

He said the “leaked excerpt” of its language policy has raised questions for the CBC that the public broadcaster must now answer.

Culture Minister Marc Miller praised the move on social media, calling it a “welcome change to what was a piece of pedantic and foolish guidance that caused legitimate anger.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2026.