Canada-India relations will be repaired ‘one step at a time': Anita Anand

Globe and Mail

7 days ago

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Canada looks forward to rebuilding ties with India as part of an effort to diversify trade away from the United States – even as the RCMP investigation into the killing of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar continues.
Canada-India relations suffered a major rupture in September 2023, when then prime minister Justin Trudeau accused India of a role in the June 2023 murder of Mr. Nijjar, a prominent advocate for a separate state for Sikhs in the Indian state of Punjab. India has denied the allegation.
Twenty months after this diplomatic breach, Canada's and India's ambassador-level posts in each other's country are still vacant.
Ms. Anand spoke by phone with her Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on May 25. Asked Thursday if she believes that call is the beginning of a process that will lead to the exchange of high commissioners between India and Canada, she said Ottawa is approaching the relationship incrementally.
'We are certainly taking it one step at a time. As I mentioned, the rule of law will never be compromised, and there is an ongoing investigation regarding the case that you mentioned,' she said in an interview, referring to Mr. Nijjar's murder. 'At the same time, we are looking forward to continuing to build this partnership, and we're looking forward to that as a government – it's not just me.'
A year after Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death, mysteries remain about how he really lived
'It's part of the process of diversifying our relationships and building relationships around the world.'
Prime Minister Mark Carney won April's federal election after campaigning on a plan to reduce the country's dependency on the United States, which he painted as increasingly unreliable.
Ms. Anand, whose previous cabinet posts have included defence, procurement and Treasury Board, played a leading role in purchasing COVID-19 vaccines for Canada.
She said her focus as foreign affairs minister will be economic. 'We will use diplomacy to strategically advance Canada's economic interests,' Ms. Anand said, adding later: 'My role is to stand up for Canada and the best interests of Canadians, so that we are not so dependent on one large economy to the south of us.'
Asked whether she asked India to identify which of its officials played a role in the murder of Mr. Nijjar, Ms. Anand said the RCMP's probe is out of the hands of the government. 'That investigation is independent and it will continue under the auspices of an independent agency.'
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the B.C. plumber whose murder became the catalyst in a geopolitical crisis
Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada, said India is important to Canada's economic interests. Mr. Hyder said he plans to travel to India in July to set the stage for larger business trade delegation either in the fall or early in 2026.
'You can't have an Indo-Canadian strategy without the Indo, and at some point in time, a mature democracy dealing with another mature democracy finds a way to deal with difficult situations,' Mr. Hyder said.
Trade experts have called for Canada to follow the lead of the United States and Britain in rolling back sanctions on Syria now that former dictator Bashar al-Assad has been replaced by a new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Ms. Anand noted that in March, Ottawa announced it would temporarily ease existing sanctions on Syria for a period of six months 'to support democratization, stabilization and the delivery of aid during this period of transition.' She said apart from that, Ottawa is monitoring the situation.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pitched Canada on joining the White House's Golden Dome plan for a US$171-billion system to expand continental defences against missile and drone attacks. He also said it would cost Canada US$61-billion to join but Canadians could get it for free if they agreed to be annexed as the '51st State.'
Ms. Anand avoided discussing Mr. Trump's annexation proposal but said Ottawa needs to keep strong ties with Washington on military matters.
'The advantage is to maintain a strong partnership with the United States on defense and security. Period. And that is why the Prime Minister has signaled that we are open to that conversation relating to what other measures can be taken to strengthen that co-operation and strengthen the protection of Canada's airspace,' she said.
'All options are on the table, and we will spare no expense for the safety and security of Canadians.'
On Israel, Ms. Anand did not answer whether she expected Canada recognize Palestine as a sovereign state in the near term.
'The only way to bring peace and security to both Israelis and Palestinians is the release of hostages, the immediate return to a ceasefire and working toward the implementation of a two-state solution,' the foreign affairs minister said.