Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Ruby Dhalla, a Canadian politician of Indian origin, is making history by running for the leadership of the Liberal Party and potentially becoming Canada’s first woman of colour Prime Minister. Dhalla emphasised the importance of diversity within the party and in the country’s debates.

As a self-made businesswoman, doctor, and three-time Member of Parliament, Dhalla believes she has the experience to navigate Canada’s challenges. She identified the rising cost of housing, increasing crime rates, rising food prices, and the threat of US tariffs as key issues facing Canadians. “Given the tariff threats that Canada is facing, it will have a big impact on Canadian workers and on the Canadian economy”, Dhalla added.

Dhalla’s personal story is one of overcoming humble beginnings. Born in Winnipeg to immigrant parents, she achieved her Canadian dream through hard work and determination. She added that her life speaks volumes about the opportunities that exist in Canada. She also credited Pierre Trudeau, current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s father, for opening Canada’s doors to immigrants in the 1970s.

She said, “My mother came to Canada in 1972 and I have the opportunity to, through her wishes, through a lot of hard work, drive and determination, but also because of the great country that Canada is, to fulfill a Canadian dream.”

Regarding India-Canada relations, Dhalla stressed the importance of strengthening ties, given the large Indian diaspora in Canada. She believes Canada should explore partnerships with other countries, including India, to mitigate the impact of US tariffs.

Speaking in Hindi, she added, “Jitne bhi humare Canada main business log hain, workers hain, unko bhi ek opportunity milni chahiye ki wo baki deshon ke saath kaam kar sake”. (Workers and business people in Canada should also get an opportunity to work with other countries.)

Dhalla has been working with the Liberal Party since she was 14. Her leadership’s campaign focuses on rebuilding the Liberal Party and Canada. Her slogan, ‘Canada’s comeback starts now’ reflects her commitment to addressing the country’s challenges. In response to criticism from Pierre Poilievre regarding the Liberal Party’s damaging impact on the Canadian society and economy, Dhalla outlined her initiatives to address crime, housing and food prices, and taxation.

Finally, she aims to create a competitive economy that supports businesses, entrepreneurs, and young people. With her international experience, she hopes to restore Canada’s reputation on the world stage and build strong partnerships with other countries. She said, “It’s important that we bring Canada back to the country that was very respected on the world stage, that we work with other countries to ensure that we continue to build great partnerships and great relationships.”
 

Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada October 29, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Hindus in Canada are aggrieved after Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre had chosen to cancel the 2024 Diwali celebrations.

The Hindu Forum on Canda says that the move sends a clear message of exclusion to the community.

“A move that sends a clear message of exclusion to a community deeply woven into Canada’s cultural fabric. Diwali, a festival symbolizing light and unity, is celebrated worldwide, with leaders like U.S. President Biden and astronaut Sunita Williams honouring it with great respect. Yet, CPC leader Pierre Poilievre has shown a concerning disregard for Canadian Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains. This decision is a politically motivated act of appeasement that dismisses a significant, vibrant part of Canadian society,” a statement from the Hindu Forum said.

The organisation called on Indian-origin people in Canada to vote for leaders who stand by all Canadians.

“Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains in Canada — nearly 2.5 million strong–are rapidly growing communities that have made meaningful contributions across fields, from science to education. Mutual respect among communities is what strengthens Canada, but it seems CPC leadership does not uphold this principle when it comes to these communities. It’s crucial for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains to stand united against decisions that show a lack of respect for our culture and beliefs. In the upcoming federal elections, let’s choose wisely. Pierre Poilievre is not yet Prime Minister, yet his true colours of appeasement politics show through by cancelling Diwali celebrations. If he were to become Prime Minister, what further tactics might he use? Our votes should go to leaders who genuinely respect and stand by all Canadians, and we must make our voices heard. This Diwali, let’s stand together for representation, respect, and true inclusivity,” the statement said.

Earlier, Canada’s opposition leader Pierre Poilievre cancelled the Diwali celebrations, scheduled to take place at Parliament Hill, amid the ongoing diplomatic row with India.

The Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC), the event’s organiser, received no explanation for the cancellation of the Diwali celebration.

Also Read | Timeline: What led to India, Canada expelling top diplomats?

This statement comes amid strained ties between India and Canada, following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023.

The situation has led to diplomatic tensions and the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats from the country in mid-October.

OFIC president Shiv Bhasker wrote a letter to Pierre Poilievre, expressing dismay over the decision.In a letter to Pierre Poilievre, Bhasker wrote, “It is with extreme disappointment and in sadness that I am writing this letter to you to voice our dismay at the Office of the Leader of Opposition cancelling the 24th Diwali celebration on the Parliament Hill.”

“The failure of the politicians to attend this important cultural event, particularly at such a delicate time, sends a clear message to Indo-Canadians: that we are being viewed not as fellow Canadians but as outsiders who are somehow linked to the political actions of a country many of us have ancestral ties to but no direct connection with,” the letter added.

Further, Mr. Bhasker urged the Office of the Leader of Opposition to recognise the harm caused to the Indo-Canadian community by the cancellation of a Diwali celebration event.

“This cancelled event was not just a political gathering; it was meant to celebrate Diwali, a festival that brings together families, friends, and communities in a spirit of light, hope, and renewal. By distancing oneself from this celebration, our political leader has turned what should have been a moment of unity into one of division,” the letter added.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a news conference on the investigative efforts related to violent criminal activity occurring in Canada with connections to India, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, on October 14, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in relation to an investigation of the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia last year, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday (October 14, 2024).

India earlier said it had ordered the expulsion of six top Canadian diplomats, including the acting High Commissioner, and said it had withdrawn its envoy from Canada, contradicting Canada’s statement that it had expelled the envoy.

Relations between the two countries have been fraught since last year, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had evidence linking Indian agents to the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in his country.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they had significant information on broad criminal activity orchestrated by agents of the government of India and used to target members of the South Asian community in Canada.

Here’s a timeline of the events have transpired:

June 18, 2023: Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, is shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh population. He was a Canadian citizen campaigning for the creation of an independent Sikh homeland carved out of India.

September 1, 2023: A Canadian trade official says Canada paused talks on a proposed trade treaty with India, an unexpected move that came about three months after both countries said they planned to seal an initial pact in 2023.

September 10, 2023: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveys strong concerns about Sikh separatist protests in Canada to Prime Minister Trudeau on the sidelines of a G20 summit in New Delhi.

September 18, 2023: Trudeau tells parliament that Canada was “actively pursuing credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to Nijjar’s killing.

September 19, 2023: India dismisses Trudeau’s assertion as “absurd.” Each country expels a diplomat in tit-for-tat moves, with Canada throwing out India’s top intelligence officer in the country while India expelled his Canadian counterpart.

September 22, 2023:India suspends issuing new visas for Canadians and asks Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in India. India resumes issuing visas two months later.

October 19, 2023: Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India amid a dispute over Nijjar’s murder, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly says.

October 29, 2023: Tens of thousands of Sikhs turn out in Surrey, British Columbia, at the same gurdwara, a Sikh house of worship, where Nijjar was killed to vote in an unofficial referendum on the creation of an independent Sikh state.

November 21, 2023: India’s National Investigation Agency files a case against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist, stating that he warned Air India passengers in video messages shared on social media that their lives were in danger.

November 22, 2023: A senior Biden administration official says U.S. authorities thwarted a plot to kill Pannun in the United States and issued a warning to India over concerns the New Delhi government was involved.

February 5, 2024: India’s High Commissioner says in an interview with Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper that India will not provide information to Canadian investigators over Nijjar’s murder until Canada shares evidence.

April 30, 2024: The White House describes as a serious matter a Washington Post report that an officer in India’s intelligence service was directly involved in both Nijjar’s killing and the foiled plot to kill Pannun in the U.S.

India’s External Affairs Ministry said the report contained “unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations.”

May 3, 2024: Canadian police charge three people linked to Nijjar’s murder, a source directly familiar with the matter says.

August 27, 2024: Canadian police warn Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an aide to Nijjar, of an increased threat to his life, a prominent Sikh separatist says.

October 14, 2024: Canada expels six Indian diplomats including the High Commissioner, linking them to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader and alleging a broader effort to target Indian dissidents in Canada. India retaliates by ordering the expulsion of six high-ranking Canadian diplomats including the acting High Commissioner and said it had withdrawn its envoy from Canada, contradicting Canada’s statement of expulsion. Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says “We will never tolerate the involvement of a foreign government threatening and killing Canadian citizens on Canadian soil.”

This image courtesy of Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) shows a booking photo of 22-year-old Amandeep Singh, a 4th Indian national charged with the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
| Photo Credit: AFP

The Canadian authorities on May 12 arrested a fourth Indian national for his role in the killing of separatist Khalistan Hardeep Singh Nijjar, according to an official release.

Twenty-two-year-old Amardeep Singh, a resident of Brampton, Surrey, and Abbotsford areas of Canada, has been charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said that Singh was arrested on May 11 for his role in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He was already in the custody of the Peel Regional Police for unrelated firearms charges out, the official release said.

“This arrest shows the nature of our ongoing investigation to hold responsible those that played a role in the homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” said Superintendent Mandeep Mooker, the Officer in Charge of IHIT.

Nijjar, 45, was killed outside Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023.

IHIT investigators on May 3 arrested three Indian nationals – Karan Brar (22), Kamalpreet Singh (22) and 28-year-old Karanpreet Singh – for the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

All three individuals are Indian nationals living in Edmonton and have been charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Three Indian nationals accused of killing Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year have appeared before a Canadian court through video for the first time to face homicide charges in a case that has soured Canada-India relations.

Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, all Indian nationals residing in Edmonton, were arrested and charged on May 3 with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

They appeared separately by video in front of a packed Surrey provincial courtroom on May 7 to acknowledge the charges of first-degree murder and conspiring to commit murder and to agree to have their cases adjourned to May 21 to give them time to consult with their lawyers, the Vancouver Sun newspaper reported.

The three believed to be members of an alleged hit squad appeared before the Surrey Provincial Court in British Columbia province, the report said.

Each of them appeared separately from North Fraser Pretrial Centre wearing jail-issued red T-shirts or sweatshirts and sweatpants.

Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh activist whose killing has divided Canada and India?

Two of the accused appeared in the morning while Kamalpreet Singh’s appearance was delayed until after lunch to give him time to consult with a lawyer.

All three agreed to have the proceedings heard in English and each of them nodded that they understood the charges of first-degree murder and conspiring to murder Nijjar, the report said.

The court granted the Crown prosecutor’s request for a no-contact order naming seven people under a Canada Criminal Code section that bans the accused from communicating directly or indirectly with any of them.

Those named on the order are Nijjar’s son Balraj Nijjar, 21, and Harjinder Nijjar, Mehtab Nijjar, Sarandeep Sehaj, Harsimranjeet Singh, Arshdeep Kapoor and Malkit Singh, the report added.

The three accused men had a brief appearance before an adjudicator on May 4 for an interim judicial release hearing, after which they were kept in custody.

Their next step would be to have their lawyers apply for bail, said Surrey criminal and immigration lawyer Affan Bajwa, who has no connection to the case.

Mr. Bajwa said their chances of being released on bail would depend on whether their lawyers could make a strong case to the judge.

“I think it may be difficult for them to be released on bail because of a possible flight risk and risk to public safety,” he said.

Mr. Bajwa also said if the case goes ahead, the men would be tried in Canada and if found guilty of first-degree murder would have no chance of parole for at least 25 years.

If they are foreign nationals or permanent residents, as soon as they’re released, they would face a deportation hearing by the Canada Border Services Agency, he said.

If found not guilty, they could still be deported, according to a Supreme Court of Canada ruling in September in which the nine judges unanimously ruled that a foreign national could be deemed inadmissible to Canada on security grounds under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of “being a danger to the security of Canada,” according to Canadian Lawyer Magazine, the Vancouver Sun report said.

Hundreds of local Khalistan supporters showed up at the courthouse. A separate overflow room inside the courthouse was opened to accommodate an additional 50 people who wanted to witness the hearing.

Another 100 or so people outside the courthouse waved Khalistan flags and carried posters supporting Sikh separatism.

Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023.

The indictments May 3 allege the conspiracy unfolded in both Surrey and Edmonton between May 1, 2023, and the date of Nijjar’s killing.

The alleged hitmen entered Canada over the past five years and were suspected of involvement in the world of drug trafficking and violence, according to local police.

India had on May 2 rejected fresh comments by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the killing of Nijjar and said the remarks once again illustrated the political space given in Canada to separatism, extremism, and violence.

Mr. Trudeau addressed a Khalsa Day event in Toronto on May 5 that was attended by some pro-Khalistan supporters.

The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Mr. Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of 45-year-old Nijjar.

India has dismissed Mr. Trudeau’s charges as “absurd” and “motivated.” The presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada has long frustrated India, which had designated Nijjar a “terrorist.” The police suggested more arrests might be coming. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, the force’s commander for the Pacific region, said May 3 that he wouldn’t comment on the alleged links between the three men arrested and Indian officials but noted the force is “investigating connections to the government of India.” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on May 4 said what is happening in poll-bound Canada over the killing of Nijjar is mostly due to their internal politics and has nothing to do with India.

He said a section of pro-Khalistan people are using Canada’s democracy, creating a lobby and have become a vote bank.

The ruling party in Canada has no majority in Parliament and some parties depend on pro-Khalistan leaders, he said.

“We have convinced them several times not to give visa, legitimacy or political space to such people which is causing problems for them [Canada], for us and also for our relationship,” Mr. Jaishankar said.

But the Canadian government has not done anything, Mr. Jaishankar said, adding that India sought the extradition of 25 people, most of whom are pro-Khalistan, but they did not pay any heed.

“Canada did not give any proof. They do not share any evidence with us in certain cases, police agencies also do not cooperate with us. It is their political compulsion in Canada to blame India. As elections are coming in Canada, they indulge in vote bank politics,” the Minister said.

Canada has shifted a number of its diplomats stationed at missions in India outside of New Delhi
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Canada has shifted a number of its diplomats stationed at missions in India outside of New Delhi to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, CTV news of Canada has reported citing sources.

The report came a day after External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi informed that the two sides were in conversation to ensure “parity” in the presence of diplomatic staff in each other’s missions. 

The Ministry is yet to comment on the report and the High Commission of Canada said it had “no comment” to offer. During the weekly press briefing held on Thursday, Mr. Bagchi did not confirm if India wanted evacuation of 41 Canadian diplomats as was reported by the Financial Times on October 3 but reiterated that Canada maintained “much higher” diplomatic presence in India. He said: “I would assume there would be a reduction.” 

Citing Canadian sources, CTV news reported on Friday that the issue was not about removing 41 diplomats but to address India’s call for “parity” in diplomatic staff. Movement of foreign diplomats from India to neighbouring countries is a rare development indicating nosediving relation between Ottawa and New Delhi. 

For more than a fortnight, India-Canada relation has been caught in an unprecedented crisis over the June 18 murder of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The matter took a dramatic turn when Prime Minister Trudeau took it up in the Canadian parliament and blamed Indian agents for being behind the murder. 

Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomats immediately after Mr. Trudeau made the statement in the House of Commons on September 18. India described the charge as “absurd” and hit back by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat from the Canadian High Commission here. Further, India also implemented a visa ban for Canadian citizens which, however, exempted owners of valid Indian visas and PIO-card holders. 

The Financial Times report, however, indicated an escalation in the crisis which came more or less simultaneously with a slew of comments by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who in his public comments in the U.S. referred to Canada giving space to extremists. 

Mr. Trudeau and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has maintained that they were in talks with India with the latter maintaining that it was necessary for Canada to have diplomats on the ground in Delhi as relation between the two sides has hit an “extremely challenging time”.  

A Canadian flag flies in front of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. File.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

Canada has updated travel advisory for its citizens in India asking them to “stay vigilant and exercise caution” in the context of recent developments as there are calls for protests and some “negative sentiment” towards Canada on social media.

Tensions flared between India and Canada following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s explosive allegations of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, on his country’s soil on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

Also read | The downward spiral in India-Canada ties

India angrily rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official over the case.

“In the context of recent developments in Canada and in India, there are calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada on social media. Please remain vigilant and exercise caution,” the Canadian government said in an update on Sunday.

This comes after New Delhi issued a similar advisory for Indian nationals and students living in Canada and halted visa services late last week, Global News reported.

On Monday, Canada accused the Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last June and expelled an Indian diplomat in Ottawa in retaliation.

Here are 5 points on Hardeep Singh Nijjar:

New Delhi:

India rejected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation that it played a role in the June killing of a Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar describing it as “absurd” and “motivated”.

India’s reaction came after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging that the Indian government may have had links to the assassination of a Sikh leader in that country.

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said that his government had “credible allegations” linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom India had declared a wanted terrorist. Nijjar was killed on June 18 in Surrey.

“The involvement of any foreign government in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Mr Trudeau told an emergency session of the parliamentary opposition.

He also called “in the strongest possible terms” on the Indian government to cooperate in clearing up the matter.

Here are the LIVE updates on Canada’s action against India:

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India Responds To Trudeau’s Charge On Khalistani Terrorist Killing
The Indian government “completely rejected” the Canadian PM’s allegations and said their political figures openly expressing sympathy for “such elements” remains a matter of deep concern.

“Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said a foreign ministry statement.

Canada PM’s Big Charge On Khalistani Terrorist Killing
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government had “credible allegations” linking Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing in June last year with the “agents of the Government of India”.