Canada 's goal was to ensure that potentially destructive air traffic be removed from United States airspace as quickly as possible , and away from potential U.S. targets , and instead place these aircraft on the ground in Canada , at military and civilian airports in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia , Newfoundland and Labrador , and British Columbia ( and also several in New Brunswick , Alberta , Manitoba , Ontario and Quebec ) where their destructive potential could be better contained and neutralized .
It was to make sure that possible destructive air traffic was removed from the United States airspace as quickly as possible , and away from potential U.S. targets . Instead they placed the aircraft on the ground in Canada , mainly at military and civilian airports in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia , Newfoundland and Labrador , and British Columbia ( as well as some in New Brunswick , Alberta , Manitoba , Ontario and Quebec ) .