India, Canada working on reinstatement of High Commissioners: MEA
At a press briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney had reaffirmed the importance of India-Canada ties during a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. He added that both sides agreed to take constructive steps to "restore stability" in the relationship.
"We had issued a press release when we had the last meeting of PM Modi with Prime Minister Carney, on the sidelines of G7 in Kananaskis in Alberta. Both leaders then reaffirmed the importance of India-Canada ties based on shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Both sides agreed to take calibrated and constructive steps to restore stability in the relationship, beginning with the early return of high commissioners to each other's capitals," Randhir Jaiswal said.
"That was what was agreed between the prime ministers. Both countries are now working on this particular matter," he added.
Diplomatic tensions between the two nations flared up last year after then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that his government had "credible allegations" of India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in 2023.
India had strongly denied the charges, calling them "absurd" and "motivated." In response, India recalled six diplomats, including its High Commissioner to Canada, after they were labelled "persons of interest" by Canadian authorities investigating the killing. India also expelled six Canadian diplomats, including Canada's High Commissioner to India.
Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.
With Mark Carney now serving as the Canadian Prime Minister after Trudeau's resignation, both countries appear to be taking steps to improve ties. According to MEA, PM Modi and PM Carney had a "key meeting" at the G7 Summit where they discussed ways to restore and strengthen the bilateral relationship.
India and Canada also agreed to resume senior and working-level mechanisms and discussions in various areas, including: trade, people-to-people contact, connectivity and collaboration in key areas like, cooperating on clean energy and technology initiatives, collaborating on digital infrastructure projects, exploring opportunities for cooperation in artificial intelligence and discussing potential collaboration on food security and critical minerals.
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So, it ultimately does follow the Mar Carney, because we can pretend that there's a separation between the federal government and the judiciary. But the SNC-Lavalin scandal showed that that's absolutely not the case. This is a country where Mark Carney if he decides to enforce the law here the criminal will go to jail and if he decides to not enforce the law the criminal will not go to jail. So, it ultimately will fall. I mean Mark Carney Prime Minister, also premier David Eby of the NDP hardcore socialists. I don't expect them to do anything. But, they both have the power to enforce the law here Because again, that's kind of how Canada works. We pretend it isn't because it says so on paper, but that's absolutely not case in reality. It is interesting and I don't want to be too pessimistic," he added. Daniel Bordman said that he would have expected no action from Trudeau-led government. 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With Mark Carney now serving as Canada's PM, both countries appear to be taking steps to improve ties. According to Ministry of External Affairs, PM Narendra Modi and Carney had a "key meeting" at the G7 Summit where they discussed ways to restore and strengthen the bilateral relationship. At least 10 bullet holes were visible in a window at Kap's Cafe on Thursday morning, while another window pane was broken. The building, where the cafe is located, has retail units at ground level and residential apartments above; however, it is not known how many residents live in the building. A multi-faith centre and two other businesses, which are yet to open, occupy other ground-level units. Officers could be seen in the restaurant gathering evidence while children were playing across the street outside a daycare located in Newton neighbourhood that is now cordoned off by police tape, Vancouver Sun reported. Surrey Police Service (SPS) said that the investigation is still in the very early stages and "and connections to other incident and potential motives are being examined." Police do not have a suspect description yet and the motive behind the shooting has not been determined, Vancouver Sun reported.
