Two days after Canadian fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a pair of Russian bombers off the coast of Newfoundland, Defence Minister Peter MacKay says any future incursions can expect the same swift response.

Two CF-18 fighter jets were scrambled from CFB Bagotville in Quebec on Wednesday, after North American Aersopace Defence Command (Norad) detected two TU-95 long-range bombers flying approximately 463 kilometres east of Goose Bay, Newfoundland.

MacKay said the Canadian jets "scrambled very quickly."

"They were on the scene to repel these Russian bombers," he told CTV News Channel, noting the pair of Russian Bear aircraft came "closer than we have seen in recent times."

Russian officials denied the planes' flight path entered the bounds of Canadian territory that extends some 370 kilometres off the coast.

Citing Norad chief Admiral James A. Winnefeld Jr., MacKay acknowledged such flights have become relatively commonplace occurrences designed to "give the impression of greater power and greater assertiveness."

MacKay said the Canadian response has been, and will remain, unequivocal.

"This was a message, clearly, to them that we will have CF-18 fighter planes there to greet them every time."