CTV National News: Controversy over Indian PM Modi's invitation to the G7 Summit
Vassy Kapelos breaks down the risks PM Mark Carney is making in inviting India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 Summit.
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CBC
15 minutes ago
- CBC
'We are very nimble': Calgary mayor keeps door open to G7 white hatting
With a little more than a week to go before world leaders arrive in Kananaskis, Alta., for the G7 summit, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said she is ready to continue the city's white hat ceremony tradition if logistics allow. "We are happy to white hat any of the dignitaries that are coming to town," Gondek said in an interview Friday. "We have been patient as the government has been figuring out their plans, and as dignitaries are determining how they will be traveling in and through our city." On Wednesday, a Tourism Calgary spokesperson said that "given the complexity around security and the event, at this time, there are no plans for our team to conduct a white hat ceremony for G7." Alberta's ministry of tourism and sport also said it's not planning a ceremony for the G7. Federal organizers with the G7 haven't responded to requests for comment. The Smithbilt cowboy hat has long been presented to visitors as a symbol of the city's hospitality. In 2002, then-Calgary mayor Dave Bronconnier greeted G8 leaders on the Calgary airport tarmac, including former U.S. president George W. Bush and former French president Jacques Chirac. Gondek emphasized the significance of the gesture. "We are known for our hospitality and our volunteerism and our ability to make people feel so welcome when they visit our city," Gondek said. "It's a really good symbol of who we are." Unclear which leaders will travel through Calgary While there's currently no ceremony planned, Gondek confirmed she is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney and said she's awaiting further guidance from officials. "We are very nimble and responsive to whatever the situation may be. And if there's an opportunity to do something bigger and more formal, obviously we will be engaging with any partners that we can," she said. Asked if she would be open to white hatting all G7 leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump amid ongoing trade tensions, Gondek said any such plans would depend on travel logistics and who actually passes through Calgary. "I can't deal in hypotheticals, but as opportunities come up, we'll definitely evaluate them," she said. The G7 summit in Kananaskis is set to run from June 15 to 17 and has been referred to by officials as one of the most complex domestic security operations a country can undertake, with thousands of personnel deployed across the region. Gondek said the city has been working closely with the Calgary Police Service to ensure any traffic detours that need to be put into place are being done as quickly as possible. She also noted the airport tunnel's closure from June 15 to 18. "We are advising all employees, all travelers, anyone going to businesses in that vicinity that you won't have access to the tunnel," she said. "There's [also] a lot of motorcade drills that are happening in the city right now. So it's best to give yourself a little bit of extra time." Officials from the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy and Canada, as well as the European Union, are scheduled to attend this year's summit.
Canada Standard
43 minutes ago
- Canada Standard
Would be my pleasure to welcome PM Modi for G7: Former Canada MP Chandra Arya calls India
Ottawa [Canada], June 7 (ANI): Former Member of Parliament of Canada, Chandra Arya, has said it would be his pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Canada for the G7 meeting from June 15 to 17, noting that India is an 'indispensable partner' and underlining the need for a deeper, structured bilateral relationship based on shared values like 'democracy', 'pluralism', and a 'rules-based international order'. In a post on X, Arya said, 'It would be my pleasure to welcome PM Narendra Modi to Canada for the G7 meeting during June 15-17. When I met PM Narendra Modi last July, I emphasised that Canada and India are united by shared values, democracy, pluralism, and a rules-based international order. India, an increasingly influential global actor with growing strategic, economic, and demographic weight, is an indispensable partner for Canada, both in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. It is in Canada's national economic, strategic, and geopolitical interest to forge a deeper, more structured relationship with India, one that spans trade, investment, policy, and civil society.' Earlier in the day, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that G7 countries will hold discussions on important issues, including security and energy, in their upcoming summit, adding that India's presence at the intergovernmental political and economic forum is essential. The effort seems a bid to thaw the frozen ties between the nations. Carney said that India, being the fifth largest economy and the most populous country in the world, must be at the seat. 'Let's put the two aspects in context- first is, we are in the role- Canada's in the role of the G7 chair and in those discussions as agreed with our G7 colleagues, include important discussions on energy, security, on digital future, critical minerals amongst others and partnerships actually in building infrastructure in the emerging and developing world,' he said. Carney said that India is central to a number of supply chains, which makes its presence pertinent at the G7 chair consultation. 'There are certain countries that should be at the table for those discussions, and in my capacity as G7 chair, I will consult with some others to make those determinations. India is the fifth largest economy in the world, effectively the most populous country in the world, central to a number of those supply chains at the heart of a number of those supply chains, so it makes sense,' he said. The announcement comes after a period of severely strained relations between the two countries, triggered by Canadian allegations that Indian agents were involved in the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar--a Canadian citizen and prominent pro-Khalistan activist--outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver, as per DW News. India strongly denied the claims, and both nations expelled senior diplomats in a tit-for-tat escalation, DW News reported. (ANI)
Canada Standard
43 minutes ago
- Canada Standard
"G7 cannot be effective without India's presence": Former diplomat KP Fabian
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to attend the G7 summit in Canada, former diplomat KP Fabian said on Saturday that without India's presence, the summit which discusses various issues pertaining to the economy, security, and terrorism could not have been 'effective'. 'The G7 meeting, which is effective on having conversations about what is happening to global economy, security issues, war and peace, as well as terrorism and necessary counter-terrorism measures, cannot be effective without India's presence,' Fabian told ANI here. He further said that Canadian PM Mark Carney 'has done the right thing,' by sending an invite to PM Modi, even if some might say there was a 'slight delay.' He further said that he thinks that PM Modi will raise the issue of terrorism post Operation Sindoor. 'So, I take it that Prime Minister Modi will raise the issue of terrorism apart from other issues, climate change, everything will be raised but there should be more focus on terrorism. Even after Pahalgam that the rest of the world, especially the west have not really woken up,' he said. Earlier in the day, PM Carney said that G7 countries will hold discussions on important issues, including security and energy, in their upcoming summit, adding that India's presence at the intergovernmental political and economic forum is essential. The effort seems a bid to thaw the frozen ties between the nations. The Canadian PM said that India, being the fifth largest economy and the most populous country in the world, must be at the seat. 'Let's put the two aspects in context- first is, we are in the role- Canada's in the role of the G7 chair and in those discussions as agreed with our G7 colleagues, include important discussions on energy, security, on digital future, critical minerals amongst others and partnerships actually in building infrastructure in the emerging and developing world,' he said. Underlining how India is central to a number of supply chains, which makes its presence pertinent at the G7 chair consultation. The announcement comes after a period of severely strained relations between the two countries, triggered by Canadian allegations that Indian agents were involved in the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar--a Canadian citizen and prominent pro-Khalistan activist--outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver, as per DW News. India strongly denied the claims, and both nations expelled senior diplomats in a tit-for-tat escalation, DW News reported. (ANI)
