Canada's intelligence agency CSIS confirms Khalistani extremism on its soil
Ottawa [Canada], June 19 (ANI): For the first time ever, Canada's premier intelligence agency, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) officially acknowledged that Khalistani extremists are using Canadian soil to promote, fundraise, and plan violence in India.
CSIS released its annual report on Wednesday, outlining some key concerns and threats to Canada's national security.
Canada intelligence agency CSIS report categorically states, 'Khalistani extremists continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India.'
India has been raising concerns about Khalistani extremists operating from Canadian soil for years, but Canada had largely turned a blind eye to the issue.
The CSIS report confirmed that Canada has become a safe haven for anti-India elements, validating India's concerns that have been raised for years.
This comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney 'agreed to take calibrated steps to restore stability to the relationship' and decided to restore High Commissioners to each other's capitals.
At the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and both leaders agreed to designate new high commissioners, with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries, according to a press release from the Prime Minister of Canada.
The Politically Motivated Violent Extremism (PMVE) threat in Canada has manifested primarily through Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) seeking to create an independent nation state called Khalistan, largely within Punjab in India.
The report noted that since the mid-1980s, the PMVE threat in Canada has manifested primarily through CBKEs.
'A small group of individuals are considered Khalistani extremists because they continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India. In particular, real and perceived Khalistani extremism emerging from Canada continues to drive Indian foreign interference activities in Canada,' the report reads.
This revelation, part of CSIS's latest annual report, has reignited concerns about foreign interference and extremist activity within Canada, particularly in the context of its sensitive diplomatic relationship with India.
Canada's own intelligence security has confirmed what New Delhi has long maintained -- Canada has become a safe haven for anti-India elements.
The report called for sustained vigilance against both external influence campaigns and domestic extremist financing networks
'These activities attempt to steer Canada's positions into alignment with India's interests on key issues, particularly with respect to how the Indian government perceives Canada-based supporters of an independent homeland that they call Khalistan,' added the report.
Tensions escalated further when former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that his government had 'credible allegations' of India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in 2023.
India has strongly denied the allegations, terming them 'absurd' and 'motivated,' and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements.
In the aftermath, India recalled six diplomats from Canada after they were declared 'persons of interest' by Canadian authorities investigating Nijjar's killing. Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.
'Links between the Government of India and the Nijjar murder signals a significant escalation in India's repression efforts against the Khalistan movement and a clear intent to target individuals in North America, Wednesday's report read.
'Real and perceived Khalistani extremism emerging from Canada continues to drive Indian foreign interference activities in Canada, the report added.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faced criticism for inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit, with some Sikh advocates and his own MPs expressing disapproval. However, Carney defended his decision, citing India's significance in global affairs.
Carney emphasized India's status as the world's fourth-largest economy and most populous country, making it a crucial player in addressing global challenges. (ANI)
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Vancouver Sun
37 minutes ago
- Vancouver Sun
Ottawa in 'serious breach' in allowing used choppers to patrol border, industry says
OTTAWA — Canada's helicopter industry is charging the federal government with a 'serious breach' in allowing the RCMP to patrol the Canada-U.S. border with antiquated military helicopters that don't meet the government's own safety regulations, National Post has learned. The second-hand helicopters, purchased on the open market by private Canadian operators who were then hired by the RCMP, were granted highly unusual special exemptions by Transport Canada. But documents show that the industry is accusing the federal government of breaking its own rules by allowing used choppers that don't meet Canadian safety standards and aren't supposed to carry passengers or even fly over developed areas. 'It's not even something that should be considered,' said Trevor Mitchell, chief executive of the Helicopter Association of Canada (HAC), about the government's decision to provide the special exemptions. 'Why do some have to follow the rules and some don't?' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. For at least the last three years, the RCMP has been relying on a small number of private contractors to help patrol the border in search of illegal migrants, drug smugglers and other illicit activities. Those contractors, including two based in Ontario, have been using up to four Black Hawk helicopters that were purchased on the second-hand market after the U.S. military decided to update much of its own fleet. According to the government's Canadian Civil Aircraft Register, the second-hand Sikorsky Black Hawk UH 60As are each at least 40 years old and were imported between 2022 and last year. The special exemptions from Transport Canada, the industry says in a series of letters to senior government officials, allowed them to do non-military jobs in Canadian air space. HAC also says that the twin-engine Black Hawks didn't come with 'type certificates,' which act like recipe books for new owners in that they provide details about the aircraft's parts and how it should be maintained. But in a March 20 letter to Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, Mitchell said even the conditions attached to the exemptions — such as not being allowed to carry passengers or fly over developed areas — have not been followed. 'We urge you to direct your department to ensure the safety restrictions attached to these aircraft are strictly enforced for the balance of the RCMP's contract and that the Force be urged to select a certified aircraft before the contract expires.' The contracts, worth an estimated $16 million so far, expire June 30, documents show. The Canadian helicopter industry, which relies heavily on conforming to streams of rules and regulations as its safety pillars, is angry and confused over Transport's decision, Mitchell said. 'It's the hottest topic in the industry.' HAC has been trying to find out why these helicopters got the green light but the association said that it hasn't been given a full explanation from Transport Canada, which granted the exemptions, or the RCMP, who hired the contractors, even though the federal police force has its own helicopters. None of the government players involved in the Black Hawk contracts agreed to an interview to address the industry's concerns, despite repeated requests. A RCMP communications officer wouldn't say over a period of almost a week when the federal police would be available to comment. Two Transport Canada executives involved in the granting of the special exemptions referred National Post to communications staff. A communications official then said that the transport department is 'unable to accommodate your request and facilitate a direct conversation.' But in an email, the official confirmed that four Black Hawks have been registered in Canada, placed on the Civil Aircraft Register and issued 'special certificates of airworthiness.' The aircraft, the email said, are being operated by legally-approved air operators. Freeland also could not be reached for comment. Denis Pilon, chief operating officer of Helicopter Transport Services, a Carp, Ont. company that bought two of the four Black Hawks and then leased the helicopters and crew to the RCMP, did not respond to voice mail messages. The government's civil aircraft registry says a third chopper was imported by Expedition Helicopters Inc. of Cochrane, Ont. The industry association says the fourth was contracted by the Alberta government. I view the whole idea of patrolling borders with helicopters skeptically Despite its reluctance to discuss the matter, the federal government is well aware of the situation involving the Black Hawks and the industry's concerns. In the spring of 2024, following interactions with HAC, former Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez directed his officials to pause the issuing of special exemptions for the Black Hawks. But in September of that year, Rodriguez resigned from the federal cabinet to run for leader of the Quebec Liberal party. He was replaced at transport for about seven months by Anita Anand, now the foreign affairs minister. She was then replaced in the new year by Chrystia Freeland, after Mark Carney became prime minister. Neither Anand nor Freeland has clarified the government's view of the situation or publicly commented on the special exemptions for the Black Hawks. Although the Black Hawk contracts pre-date the re-election earlier this year of U.S. President Donald Trump, Canada's enhanced border patrol is in sync with the White House's escalation of concern about illegal migrants and illegal drugs entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and elsewhere. But it's not like there aren't other — even domestic — options beyond Black Hawks. Mitchell says Canada has about 200 companies that offer helicopter services and pilots to fly them. Their collective fleets comprise about 1,700 choppers, many of which might be better suited than Black Hawks for patrol duties because they're smaller and equipped with infra-red cameras that allow them to work in the dark. Governments in Canada, mostly large municipalities, also own about a dozen helicopters. The military and the RCMP also have their own fleets. If the RCMP's own helicopters weren't enough, Mitchell said, it would have no problem finding private contractors to help them patrol. John Arquilla, a long-time defence analyst based in Monterey, Calif., said Black Hawks are mostly used to transport soldiers and other personnel but are considered 'utility' aircraft because of their flexibility. But Black Hawks aren't ideal for patrolling borders, he said, because they're expensive to operate, have limited range and can easily be heard as they approach. Arquilla said the broader problem with using Black Hawks to patrol a massive area such as the Canada-U.S. border is that they would have little effect, particularly compared to a cheaper, more effective technology such as drones. 'I view the whole idea of patrolling borders with helicopters skeptically.' Despite being unwilling to agree to an interview, the RCMP seems to acknowledge that critics of the Black Hawk contracts have valid points. In a Feb. 27 letter to HAC, Commissioner Mike Duheme wrote: 'I acknowledge your concerns with respect to the Blackhawk helicopters and would like to inform you that the RCMP is working with Transport Canada to review the current restrictions from a law enforcement context.' In that same letter, Duheme confirmed that the 'Black Hawks in question became operational in mid-January and are conducting surveillance patrols along the border.' He also explains that the Black Hawks are being used to complement the RCMP's existing fleet of nine helicopters, six of which provide border surveillance and support with cameras capable of thermal imaging, while one is capable of any necessary hoisting. While the RCMP wouldn't agree in recent days to an interview, the force was keen just a few months ago to publicize its new access to the Black Hawks and the enhanced capabilities that were to come with them. In an interview conducted with a television network next to one of the Black Hawks, an RCMP official confirmed that the helicopters were leased with a crew and that the choppers were designed to boost capacity. 'It's really about the ability to move people quickly,' Mathieu Bertrand, the RCMP's Director General of Federal Policing and Border Integrity, told the reporter. 'Things happen quickly on the border.' The issue of certifying the privately-owned Black Hawks has also been a topic of interest at Transport Canada for many months. According to a June, 2024 internal departmental bulletin obtained by National Post, transport was to stop considering applications for 'special certificates of airworthiness' that month. The document warns of increased interest among Canadian operators in using aircraft with the special certificates and that 'this may represent a significant change in the risk environment.' Transport Canada is responsible for the country's transportation policies and programs. The department, known for its emphasis on safety of Canada's road, rail, marine and aviation networks, says it promotes safe, secure, efficient and environmentally responsible transportation. While the Black Hawk was designed for war more than border patrol, the one advantage it may have over other choppers in this regard, is that it's large, well-known and American. Those could be important attributes, HAC's Mitchell says, if Canada's primary goal in the mission is to ensure that the United States saw its neighbour trying to step up its border patrolling efforts in a very visible way. In a June 1 letter to the RCMP, Mitchell writes that the Black Hawks 'offer no technological advantage to the mission profile, only an appearance.' Helicopters are valued for their versatility and mobility. In Canada, they're mostly used in search and rescue, fighting forest fires, helping combat floods, and commercial applications in remote areas such as mining and electrical lines. But five-seat helicopters are typically used for patrol because they're more nimble and cheaper to operate than a larger, 14-seater such as Sikorsky's Black Hawk. According to a February 10 letter by HAC to RCMP Commissioner Duheme, the choppers have not been approved by Canadian or American authorities for civilian purposes. The RCMP's Black Hawk contracts overlap with Carney's vow to increase Canada's military spending so that it reaches the NATO target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Carney has also vowed to do more to support Canadian business and to rely less on the U.S. Industry sources say the older Black Hawks were selling in recent months for about $1 million each, as the market became flooded with supply. The market for used helicopters has grown in recent years as the U.S. military has modernized its fleet, including the purchase of a newer model of Black Hawks, called the UH-60M. That has punted a number of older, but still functional Black Hawks to the second-hand market. Prices of new and used aircraft vary widely, depending on a range of factors. But a new five-seat helicopter, including those made in Canada, sells for about $6.5 million, while a new 14-seater, similar in size to the Black Hawks, goes for about $12 million. But the helicopter association says the special exemptions from the usual rules are not fair to Canadian helicopter makers, nor to those Canadian companies that offer helicopter services using certified choppers. Bell Textron, a subsidiary of Fort Worth, Tex.-based Textron, makes commercial helicopters at its Mirabel, Que. facilities. Its lineup of models includes the Bell 412, which could be used for border patrol. Airbus Helicopters Canada, formerly MBB Helicopter Canada, has a 300-employee site at Fort Erie, Ont. That location focuses largely on sales, repair, engineering and composite manufacturing. The Black Hawk, made by Sikorsky Aircraft, is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift chopper in the 'military utility' product niche. Stratford, Conn.-based Sikorsky was founded by the Russian-American aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky in 1923 and was among the first companies to manufacture helicopters for civilian and military use. The Black Hawk was first conceived in 1972 when its design was submitted for a U.S. Army competition. Carney, meanwhile, issued a statement earlier this month saying that Canada plans to boost its defence spending by $9.3 billion to $54.3 billion. The money will be used on a range of items, including submarines, ships, armoured vehicles and aircraft, as well as new drones and sensors for monitoring the Arctic and seafloor. In the government's latest signal that it intends to create some distance from the U.S. since Trump imposed a wide range of debilitating tariffs on Canadian exports, Carney said Canada wants to reduce how much of its defence budget goes to purchases of American equipment. The prime minister has said that about 75 per cent of Canada's capital spending on defence heads to the U.S. In March, Carney ordered a review of the plan to order 88 fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to determine whether those aircraft represent the best investment. While Canada is legally obliged to purchase the first 16 of those jets, Auditor General Karen Hogan said this week in a report that it's unlikely that the order will be delivered on time or on budget. National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
42 minutes ago
- Edmonton Journal
Ottawa in 'serious breach' in allowing used choppers to patrol border, industry says
Article content OTTAWA — Canada's helicopter industry is charging the federal government with a 'serious breach' in allowing the RCMP to patrol the Canada-U.S. border with antiquated military helicopters that don't meet the government's own safety regulations, National Post has learned. The second-hand helicopters, purchased on the open market by private Canadian operators who were then hired by the RCMP, were granted highly unusual special exemptions by Transport Canada. But documents show that the industry is accusing the federal government of breaking its own rules by allowing used choppers that don't meet Canadian safety standards and aren't supposed to carry passengers or even fly over developed areas. Article content 'It's not even something that should be considered,' said Trevor Mitchell, chief executive of the Helicopter Association of Canada (HAC), about the government's decision to provide the special exemptions. 'Why do some have to follow the rules and some don't?' For at least the last three years, the RCMP has been relying on a small number of private contractors to help patrol the border in search of illegal migrants, drug smugglers and other illicit activities. Those contractors, including two based in Ontario, have been using up to four Black Hawk helicopters that were purchased on the second-hand market after the U.S. military decided to update much of its own fleet. According to the government's Canadian Civil Aircraft Register, the second-hand Sikorsky Black Hawk UH 60As are each at least 40 years old and were imported between 2022 and last year. Article content The special exemptions from Transport Canada, the industry says in a series of letters to senior government officials, allowed them to do non-military jobs in Canadian air space. HAC also says that the twin-engine Black Hawks didn't come with 'type certificates,' which act like recipe books for new owners in that they provide details about the aircraft's parts and how it should be maintained. But in a March 20 letter to Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, Mitchell said even the conditions attached to the exemptions — such as not being allowed to carry passengers or fly over developed areas — have not been followed. 'We urge you to direct your department to ensure the safety restrictions attached to these aircraft are strictly enforced for the balance of the RCMP's contract and that the Force be urged to select a certified aircraft before the contract expires.' Article content The contracts, worth an estimated $16 million so far, expire June 30, documents show. The Canadian helicopter industry, which relies heavily on conforming to streams of rules and regulations as its safety pillars, is angry and confused over Transport's decision, Mitchell said. 'It's the hottest topic in the industry.' HAC has been trying to find out why these helicopters got the green light but the association said that it hasn't been given a full explanation from Transport Canada, which granted the exemptions, or the RCMP, who hired the contractors, even though the federal police force has its own helicopters. None of the government players involved in the Black Hawk contracts agreed to an interview to address the industry's concerns, despite repeated requests. A RCMP communications officer wouldn't say over a period of almost a week when the federal police would be available to comment. Article content Two Transport Canada executives involved in the granting of the special exemptions referred National Post to communications staff. A communications official then said that the transport department is 'unable to accommodate your request and facilitate a direct conversation.' But in an email, the official confirmed that four Black Hawks have been registered in Canada, placed on the Civil Aircraft Register and issued 'special certificates of airworthiness.' The aircraft, the email said, are being operated by legally-approved air operators. Freeland also could not be reached for comment. Denis Pilon, chief operating officer of Helicopter Transport Services, a Carp, Ont. company that bought two of the four Black Hawks and then leased the helicopters and crew to the RCMP, did not respond to voice mail messages. The government's civil aircraft registry says a third chopper was imported by Expedition Helicopters Inc. of Cochrane, Ont. The industry association says the fourth was contracted by the Alberta government. I view the whole idea of patrolling borders with helicopters skeptically Despite its reluctance to discuss the matter, the federal government is well aware of the situation involving the Black Hawks and the industry's concerns. In the spring of 2024, following interactions with HAC, former Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez directed his officials to pause the issuing of special exemptions for the Black Hawks. But in September of that year, Rodriguez resigned from the federal cabinet to run for leader of the Quebec Liberal party. He was replaced at transport for about seven months by Anita Anand, now the foreign affairs minister. She was then replaced in the new year by Chrystia Freeland, after Mark Carney became prime minister. Neither Anand nor Freeland has clarified the government's view of the situation or publicly commented on the special exemptions for the Black Hawks. Although the Black Hawk contracts pre-date the re-election earlier this year of U.S. President Donald Trump, Canada's enhanced border patrol is in sync with the White House's escalation of concern about illegal migrants and illegal drugs entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and elsewhere. Article content But it's not like there aren't other — even domestic — options beyond Black Hawks. Mitchell says Canada has about 200 companies that offer helicopter services and pilots to fly them. Their collective fleets comprise about 1,700 choppers, many of which might be better suited than Black Hawks for patrol duties because they're smaller and equipped with infra-red cameras that allow them to work in the dark. Governments in Canada, mostly large municipalities, also own about a dozen helicopters. The military and the RCMP also have their own fleets. If the RCMP's own helicopters weren't enough, Mitchell said, it would have no problem finding private contractors to help them patrol. John Arquilla, a long-time defence analyst based in Monterey, Calif., said Black Hawks are mostly used to transport soldiers and other personnel but are considered 'utility' aircraft because of their flexibility. But Black Hawks aren't ideal for patrolling borders, he said, because they're expensive to operate, have limited range and can easily be heard as they approach. Article content Arquilla said the broader problem with using Black Hawks to patrol a massive area such as the Canada-U.S. border is that they would have little effect, particularly compared to a cheaper, more effective technology such as drones. 'I view the whole idea of patrolling borders with helicopters skeptically.' Despite being unwilling to agree to an interview, the RCMP seems to acknowledge that critics of the Black Hawk contracts have valid points. In a Feb. 27 letter to HAC, Commissioner Mike Duheme wrote: 'I acknowledge your concerns with respect to the Blackhawk helicopters and would like to inform you that the RCMP is working with Transport Canada to review the current restrictions from a law enforcement context.' In that same letter, Duheme confirmed that the 'Black Hawks in question became operational in mid-January and are conducting surveillance patrols along the border.' He also explains that the Black Hawks are being used to complement the RCMP's existing fleet of nine helicopters, six of which provide border surveillance and support with cameras capable of thermal imaging, while one is capable of any necessary hoisting. Article content While the RCMP wouldn't agree in recent days to an interview, the force was keen just a few months ago to publicize its new access to the Black Hawks and the enhanced capabilities that were to come with them. In an interview conducted with a television network next to one of the Black Hawks, an RCMP official confirmed that the helicopters were leased with a crew and that the choppers were designed to boost capacity. 'It's really about the ability to move people quickly,' Mathieu Bertrand, the RCMP's Director General of Federal Policing and Border Integrity, told the reporter. 'Things happen quickly on the border.' The issue of certifying the privately-owned Black Hawks has also been a topic of interest at Transport Canada for many months. According to a June, 2024 internal departmental bulletin obtained by National Post, transport was to stop considering applications for 'special certificates of airworthiness' that month. The document warns of increased interest among Canadian operators in using aircraft with the special certificates and that 'this may represent a significant change in the risk environment.' Article content Transport Canada is responsible for the country's transportation policies and programs. The department, known for its emphasis on safety of Canada's road, rail, marine and aviation networks, says it promotes safe, secure, efficient and environmentally responsible transportation. While the Black Hawk was designed for war more than border patrol, the one advantage it may have over other choppers in this regard, is that it's large, well-known and American. Those could be important attributes, HAC's Mitchell says, if Canada's primary goal in the mission is to ensure that the United States saw its neighbour trying to step up its border patrolling efforts in a very visible way. In a June 1 letter to the RCMP, Mitchell writes that the Black Hawks 'offer no technological advantage to the mission profile, only an appearance.' Helicopters are valued for their versatility and mobility. In Canada, they're mostly used in search and rescue, fighting forest fires, helping combat floods, and commercial applications in remote areas such as mining and electrical lines. Article content But five-seat helicopters are typically used for patrol because they're more nimble and cheaper to operate than a larger, 14-seater such as Sikorsky's Black Hawk. According to a February 10 letter by HAC to RCMP Commissioner Duheme, the choppers have not been approved by Canadian or American authorities for civilian purposes. The RCMP's Black Hawk contracts overlap with Carney's vow to increase Canada's military spending so that it reaches the NATO target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Carney has also vowed to do more to support Canadian business and to rely less on the U.S. Industry sources say the older Black Hawks were selling in recent months for about $1 million each, as the market became flooded with supply. The market for used helicopters has grown in recent years as the U.S. military has modernized its fleet, including the purchase of a newer model of Black Hawks, called the UH-60M. Article content That has punted a number of older, but still functional Black Hawks to the second-hand market. Prices of new and used aircraft vary widely, depending on a range of factors. But a new five-seat helicopter, including those made in Canada, sells for about $6.5 million, while a new 14-seater, similar in size to the Black Hawks, goes for about $12 million. But the helicopter association says the special exemptions from the usual rules are not fair to Canadian helicopter makers, nor to those Canadian companies that offer helicopter services using certified choppers. Bell Textron, a subsidiary of Fort Worth, Tex.-based Textron, makes commercial helicopters at its Mirabel, Que. facilities. Its lineup of models includes the Bell 412, which could be used for border patrol. Airbus Helicopters Canada, formerly MBB Helicopter Canada, has a 300-employee site at Fort Erie, Ont. That location focuses largely on sales, repair, engineering and composite manufacturing. Article content The Black Hawk, made by Sikorsky Aircraft, is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift chopper in the 'military utility' product niche. Stratford, Conn.-based Sikorsky was founded by the Russian-American aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky in 1923 and was among the first companies to manufacture helicopters for civilian and military use. The Black Hawk was first conceived in 1972 when its design was submitted for a U.S. Army competition. Carney, meanwhile, issued a statement earlier this month saying that Canada plans to boost its defence spending by $9.3 billion to $54.3 billion. The money will be used on a range of items, including submarines, ships, armoured vehicles and aircraft, as well as new drones and sensors for monitoring the Arctic and seafloor. In the government's latest signal that it intends to create some distance from the U.S. since Trump imposed a wide range of debilitating tariffs on Canadian exports, Carney said Canada wants to reduce how much of its defence budget goes to purchases of American equipment. The prime minister has said that about 75 per cent of Canada's capital spending on defence heads to the U.S. Latest National Stories
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Letters to the editor, June 19: ‘Expect U.S. presidents like Donald Trump on a regular basis'
Re 'As G7 wraps, Carney vague on aims of 30-day time frame for U.S. talks' (June 18): I understand our Prime Minister's job is difficult. Having to deal with Donald Trump, while attempting to keep our country on an even keel, requires a disposition and resolve made of Kevlar. I get that. However, I do wish Mark Carney would show more sympathy for his fellow Canadians. Many of our mouths are bone dry having been agape for so long at this walking nightmare. When I see Mr. Carney treating Mr. Trump with such civility and warmth as he did at the G7 summit, I become nauseous. Just once, during a photo op, I would love to see a couple of our Prime Minister's fingers rise up behind the President's head. Failing that, some sort of prearranged signal – a wink, a hand gesture – would assure us that he understands our frustration and any display of respect, with such convincing sincerity, is for the sake of the country. Richard Row Toronto Re 'The G7 is dead – time to move on to the G6″ (June 18): The main objection is likely to be that the problem is Donald Trump, not the United States. He will be gone in 3.5 years, better to just deal with him as best we can – but I have no confidence either will happen. History says that Mr. Trump will likely attempt to cling to power by any means at his disposal, and I believe it is wishful thinking that the U.S. will regain normalcy. The many aspects of American society that have combined to put Mr. Trump in the Oval Office – twice – are likely to remain for many years to come. G6 nations should expect U.S. presidents like Donald Trump on a regular basis. Mark Roberts Gananoque, Ont. Re 'Danielle Smith has put out the welcome mat for foreign interference in Canada' (June 16): I find it more than a little ironic for an unsuccessful Liberal candidate in the recent federal election to be warning of the potential for foreign interference in an Alberta referendum. When credible allegations were made of foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, it was the initial Liberal position to say, in effect, 'Nothing to see here.' It was only after much delay that a public inquiry was held into the matter, the conclusion of which was essentially 'no harm, no foul.' Perhaps foreign election interference is only a concern when it runs counter to the interests of the Liberal party. John Reilly Victoria Re 'Canada's F-35 costs are soaring to crazy levels. Time to bring on the drones instead' (Report on Business, June 14): 'Drones of both the surveillance and attack variety may be the way to go.' Another significant role may be the development of larger drones capable of delivering fire retardant for fighting forest or urban fires. They would reduce the risk to firefighters and also function day and night. Smaller ones are already used in British Columbia to identify hot spots. The development of effective firefighting drones can be another new Canadian industry with a potential worldwide market. Morley Lertzman North Vancouver Re 'The big upside of thinking small on immigration' (Editorial, June 16): The issue I see is not that we need high population growth, or any growth. Japan and China are shrinking, and eventually it is projected that most countries outside of Africa will be shrinking by 2100. What should matter is if we have the right work force, and particularly the right mix of skills, given the lower number of young people finishing school and retirements (we should encourage later retirement) and that AI and robotics will likely decrease demand for labour. So the real issue: How do we increase GDP per capita and maintain our lifestyle, or even improve it? Savings and investment are key, as is owning more of our economy and building great Canadian companies, instead of relying on branch plants and resources. Having high immigration but spreading it out more would be a minor improvement, but not a good policy to make Canada competitive. Brian Graff Toronto Practical advice, if sweeping the floor and wishing to cut short the results by hiding problems under the rug. Encouraging new arrivals to locate in smaller cities would just recreate the same avoidable problems in big cities related to more humanity and its demands, but elsewhere. Has it ever occurred to policy makers to hold the numbers steady and try to keep the planet alive longer, instead of constantly grabbing, mining and chopping more – and creating bigger future problems? Bill Bousada Carleton Place, Ont. We can't expect immigration to lower-cost smaller cities to occur organically, with the pull of immigrants to familiar ethnic communities in our largest cities. Instead, Canada should consider reinstating past policies. When my parents arrived as post-Second World War immigrants, they had no choice to settle in their preferred destination of Toronto. Instead, as an entry requirement, my father lived in Galt (now Cambridge, Ont.) and my mother in rural Edmonton, each for a minimum one year. After that they were free to resettle to Toronto, which is where they met. We should reinstate such a policy, starting with refugees. Lower-cost communities with available jobs would ensure their integration and success. Ontario's northern land was populated by Scandinavian and Eastern European immigrants who filled railway, mining and forestry jobs. Many stayed and established vibrant communities there. George Horhota Toronto Re 'Buy Canadian movement sours sales at one Edmonton candy store' (Report on Business, June 16): Sorry to hear that a business is suffering for selling U.S. products. Here is my experience. Walmart has sales on confectionery after Easter, and I asked my kids if they wanted any. Of course, was the reply, but it had to be Canadian. So I went and read the label of each marked-down candy to find some that were made in Canada or a product of Canada. Shopping at Walmart in Canada? Wages go to locals, and buying marked-down products likely means reduced profit to send back to the United States. Summer is here and U.S. produce (cherries, corn, peaches, etc.) is showing up at local stores, but they don't come home with me. I'll wait for Mexican or Canadian produce. I've had European candies and they are different to Canadian and U.S. candies. Perhaps retailers can stock some of those and leave the U.S. candies aside for a while. Henry Ko Montreal Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@
