Canada chides U.S. for remarks on 9/11 plotters

Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan -- who met with Napolitano in March -- said his aides had contacted her office on Tuesday after she made the remarks to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

"She was well aware at that time (in March) and understood clearly that none of the 9/11 terrorists came across the Canadian border into the United States ... We confirmed with her office this morning that she continues to be well aware of that," Van Loan told reporters.

Napolitano raised concerns in Canada with remarks indicating she wants to clamp down on border security, which businesses fear could throttle vital trade flows.

She told the CBC on Monday that "to the extent that terrorists have come into our country or suspected or known terrorists have entered our country across a border, it's been across the Canadian border".