More than a dozen Canadian Sikhs face active assassination threats, organization warns
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More than a dozen Canadian Sikhs live under active threats on their lives, an advocacy organization is warning.
"Those threats originate from India," said Balpreet Singh, a lawyer and spokesperson for the World Sikh Organization.
The group argues it's unconscionable for the federal government to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to next week's G7 meeting.
Singh called for a series of actions to be taken against India at a news conference on Parliament Hill on Thursday alongside Moninder Singh, a spokesperson for the Sikh Federation (Canada).
The father of two said he'd been warned by law enforcement about threats on his life about a half-dozen times in the last few years.
Moninder Singh described leaving his home for months at a time, making arrangements with child protection services as well as the RCMP.
"You move around, constantly looking over your shoulder. You want to make sure that you're not in overly public environments, where other people could be harmed," said Moninder Singh.
"You can't go to your kid's school, you can't go to their practices, you can't go to family events. You avoid weddings, you avoid any type of family gatherings."
WATCH | Modi G7 invite sends message 'our lives simply don't matter':
Modi G7 invite sends message 'our lives simply don't matter': Sikh organization
5 hours ago
Duration 1:32
The World Sikh Organization of Canada is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to revoke Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's G7 invite unless three conditions are met. Balpreet Singh, the group's legal counsel, calls the invitation a 'betrayal of Canada's core values.'
The two men said the Canadian government should not only rescind Modi's invitation, but also launch a public inquiry specifically targeting Indian foreign interference and transnational repression in Canada, as well as cancel intelligence-sharing agreements between the two countries.
Earlier on Thursday, Global News cited confidential sources in reporting that former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh was targeted by a suspected Indian government agent in 2023, resulting in the leader getting police protection. The report says police no longer believe Singh is in imminent danger.
CBC News has not independently confirmed that story.
At the news conference, Moninder Singh said ending intelligence-sharing with India could make it harder for the country to surveil the NDP leader and Sikh activists.
Balpreet Singh said he's heard the former NDP leader no longer has police protection, something he thinks is a mistake.
CBC News sent questions to the federal Public Safety Department as well as the RCMP for details on Sikhs who have been targeted, including Jagmeet Singh.
The government department deferred to the Mounties, which have yet to provide a statement.
"The idea to me that the leader of a Canadian political party could be targeted is such a clear indication of foreign interference," said the NDP's foreign affairs critic, Heather McPherson.
"To find out that Mr. Singh no longer has any sort of protection, when the threat is very real against him, it's appalling."
"All Canadians have the right to feel safe," said Conservative MP Andrew Scheer, the interim Opposition leader.
Scheer said specific threats against a prominent Canadian who's held public office is "something that our security officials should take very seriously."
WATCH | Liberal calls Modi invite 'a bad idea':
Liberal MP says Modi coming to Canada is 'a bad idea'
1 day ago
Duration 1:58
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, B.C. Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal said he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney Wednesday morning to express concerns he says his constituents have with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi being invited to the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta.
The WSO's Balpreet Singh said other Canadian Sikh politicians are afraid to criticize India out of fear for their and their loved ones' safety. He declined to say which politicians have told him this.
"Imagine what that means to our democracy," said McPherson.
Carney has said it makes sense to have the leader of the world's most populous country around the table when there are "big challenges" to discuss.
Modi has been present at several recent G7 leaders' summits. At last year's event in Italy, he had a brief one-on-one with former prime minister Justin Trudeau.
A dozen members of Carney's own caucus met him on Wednesday to raise their concerns about the decision, though many Liberals have also defended the invite.
Liberal MP Charles Sousa said Canadians are concerned about their position on the world stage.
"India makes sense to be part of a global discussion," he said.
, the Canadian Khalistani separatist who was brazenly gunned down outside a Sikh temple in B.C. in 2023.
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Globe and Mail
33 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Who is attending the G7 summit in Alberta this week? A full list of the world leaders attending and invited
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The Prime Minister expressed his hopes for the summit and strengthening bilateral relations with Canada in a Globe and Mail opinion piece earlier this week. 'This summit will be a crucial milestone. To lead the international community from division to co-operation, we must maintain and strengthen an international order based on the rule of law, not power,' he wrote. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Mr. Carney, who took office in March, is technically the newest of all the member-state leaders coming to Alberta. But he is no stranger to the G7, having attended many conferences and meetings during his time as Governor of the Bank of Canada and then of the Bank of England. The Prime Minister has said the priorities guiding the summit are 'anchored' in building stronger economies. He will be seeking co-ordinated action in three areas: 'protecting our communities and the world,' 'building energy security and accelerating digital transitions,' and securing economic partnerships. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen The European Union is considered a 'non-enumerated' member of the G7 and sends either the president of the European Commission or the European Council to each leaders' summit. Ms. von der Leyen has served as Commission President since 2019, and was a long-serving member of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet before that. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi The decision to invite the head of a government accused of meddling in Canadian democracy — after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused 'agents of the Indian government' of orchestrating the killing of a B.C. Sikh-separatism advocate —has prompted backlash, including from within the Prime Minister's own Liberal Party. But last week, Mr. Carney said it made sense for India to be at the table, as it is one of the largest economies in the world and central to global supply chains. He wouldn't comment on the allegations levelled by his predecessor against India, saying 'the rule of law is proceeding as it should.' He said the invitation to Mr. Modi was extended in the context of continuing dialogue between law enforcement in both countries. Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico Ms. Sheinbaum accepted Mr. Carney's invitation to join the summit, and says her team is working to set up bilateral meetings with G7 leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump. Mexico and Canada have both been targets of Mr. Trump's punishing tariffs, and the three countries are set to begin renegotiating the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade next year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Mr. Zelensky might get another chance to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alberta, as Washington continues to push for an end to the war that started with Russia's 2014 seizure of Crimea and escalated to a full-scale invasion in 2022. Their last meeting erupted when the U.S. President berated Mr. Zelensky in front of media in the Oval Office. Ottawa and its peers fear the U.S. is too obliging to Moscow and that a bad deal will only create more instability in Europe. Mr. Carney and Mr. Zelensky met for the first time last month in Italy on their visit for the funeral of Pope Francis. NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte Mr. Rutte, the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, will attend his first G7 leaders' meeting since he assumed office last fall. His visit comes amid rising pressure on some NATO member states, including Canada, to increase their defence spending to meet the organization's targets. President of the World Bank Ajay Banga Last year's G7 summit in Italy was Mr. Banga's first, and the former Mastercard CEO's attendance this year comes at a time of turmoil and instability as Trump's trade war shakes up global economies and markets. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Mr. Ramaphosa attended his first G7 summit in 2019, the year he took office, and has attended nearly all leaders' summits since then. His participation this year comes amid tensions with Mr. Trump, who ambushed Mr. Ramaphosa in their Oval Office meeting last month, falsely accusing his government of killing white farmers. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva This will be President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's third G7 since taking office in 2023. He has tried to partner with countries across the Global South while advancing democracy and environmental protections. He'll be taking those themes to the COP30 summit in the Amazon this November, which his office claimed this week Carney will be attending, though Ottawa has yet to confirm. United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will come to Alberta at Mr. Carney's invitation. Canada has described the wealthy Gulf country as 'a critical partner' in humanitarian efforts such as foreign aid projects and the resettlement of vulnerable Afghans. Sudanese groups have criticized Canada for not publicly calling out the UAE for its role in arming the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary the U.S. has accused of carrying out a genocide in Sudan. The UAE has strenuously denied involvement in the conflict. South Korea President Lee Jae-myung is eager to present South Korea as a stable, democratic country following a turbulent period that started with the former president declaring martial law last December. South Korea has long aspired to join the G7 and argues that its economic and regional clout is similar to that of G7 member Japan. Ottawa and Seoul have pledged deeper co-operation on maritime security, critical minerals and the environment. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who took office in 2022, is a willing partner for Canada as it tries to shore up its trade and defence links across the Indo-Pacific. In March, Carney announced a deal was in the works to have Ottawa partner with Australia on an early-warning radar detection system to use in the Arctic and across the U.S. border. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Mr. Subianto will attend the summit after years of Ottawa pursuing deeper ties with Indonesia — a demographic and economic giant in the Indo-Pacific. Canada and Indonesia signed a free-trade agreement last year and Ottawa aspires to sell small-scale nuclear technology to the island nation as it helps to develop small reactors for northern Canadian communities. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Ms. Smith is set to greet world leaders when they arrive at the Calgary airport for the G7 summit, host representatives from non-member countries at a reception, and hold bilateral meetings throughout the summit. The premier has already made international relations a hallmark of her administration. She made headlines in January when she visited Mr. Trump's Florida home prior to him taking office, in an effort to stave off his tariffs on Canadian goods. Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will not attend the G7 leaders' summit despite an invitation from Prime Minister Mark Carney. The development may ease some of the tension inside Mr. Carney's Liberal caucus, as some MPs were upset by the invitation. The MPs say India and Saudi Arabia are in violation of Mr. Carney's own G7 priority of 'countering foreign interference and transnational crime,' and therefore should not have been invited. China Beijing was not invited to attend the summit. China warned the Group of Seven members on Friday against 'manipulating' issues related to the world's second-largest economy for their own agenda, after they accused Beijing of unfair business practices a year earlier. Beijing's criticism of the G7 and what it represents comes amid a surge in global trade tension between the United States and China this year, as well as within the bloc's membership. Prime Minister Carney is also being urged by 10 pro democracy and human-rights groups in Canada to raise the plight of jailed Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai at the summit, and to join the U.K., U.S. and Australia in calling for his unconditional release from prison over a Beijing-imposed national security law. – With reports from Stephanie Levitz, Steven Chase and The Canadian Press
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
5 of 10 new Ontario judges assigned to northern regions
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CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Billboard welcomes Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to Calgary as he attends G7 summit
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress posted a billboard welcoming President Zelenskyy to Calgary. Zelenskyy will meet with members of Calgary's Ukrainian community following the G7 summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with members of Calgary's Ukrainian community following the G7 summit in Kananaskis Country. Zelenskyy will meet with members of the Calgary branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress along with others from across Canada on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in the war against Russia. He'll be white-hatted and will receive a large ostrich egg that's been painted by a Calgary woman, in addition to a book about Ukrainian pioneers in Canada. A large electronic billboard near the Calgary International Airport is in place welcoming Zelenskky to Alberta -- and reminding other world leaders to keep Ukraine at the top of mind, says Roman Yosyfiv, the president of the Calgary branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. 'We want to say thank you (to Zelenskyy),' said Yosyfiv, 'and we hope he will say 'thank you' too, for all Canada has done and continues to do (for Ukrainian people.' 'The message for Zelenskyy is we stand together with you.' Roman Yosyfiv Roman Yosyfiv is the president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Calgary branch. (CTV Calgary) Yosyfiv added that billboard is not just for Ukrainians, either. "I've been in the presidency of (Calgary branch of) Ukrainian Canadian Congress since November and I talk to a lot of people who aren't Ukrainian," he said. 'Different nationalities – like I talk to people from Belarus, all different nationalities – when we have those rallies, people come over and they show us respect. 'So really this billboard is for everyone – not just for Ukrainians, not just for the president or the leaders – it's for everyone. 'I know the Ukrainian problem is in the ears of everyone and we want to continue to have this attention to Ukraine so the leaders can see this and then they can get together and stand together for Ukraine.' Calgary's Ukrainian community is holding a rally outside city hall Saturday at 1 p.m.
