Latest news with #GlobalAffairsCanada
Hamilton Spectator
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Former PM Harper calls for renewed ties with India, does not mention murder probe
OTTAWA - Former prime minister Stephen Harper called on Canada to move past its dispute with India, arguing in a speech on Saturday that the country is an indispensable partner in a volatile world. He also said Canadian political parties — including the Conservative party he once led — should cut all ties with activists calling for a new Sikh nation to be carved out of India. In his remarks at an event in Brampton, Ont., Harper did not mention the RCMP linking the government in New Delhi to widespread acts of murder, extortion and coercion across Canada. 'There is no reason why countries like Canada and India cannot be those enlightened voices working together, which we can do and should do by putting our recent disputes behind us,' Harper said. Harper made the comments this past Saturday at the IMEC Canada-India Charity Gala in Brampton, where he accepted an award from a group that focuses on doing business with India. He called on Canada's parties to 'sever' ties with Sikh separatists who have for decades campaigned for a separate country called Khalistan to be carved out of India. Relations between Ottawa and New Delhi have been in a deep freeze since fall 2023, when then-prime minister Justin Trudeau said his government had seen 'credible allegations' linking agents of the Indian government to the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver. A year later, Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats after the RCMP alleged that New Delhi was behind widespread and violent criminal acts across Canada. The allegations have not been proven in court. The Canadian Press has asked Harper to explain why he didn't mention the allegations against India in his remarks. Harper has in the past said he can't speak to the details of those cases. India has said the Khalistan movement threatens its national security. Ottawa has long said that it upholds India's territorial integrity but won't crack down on freedom of expression in Canada. Harper said Sikh separatists 'have a right to their democratic views' but he suggested those views have no place within the Canadian government. 'Those political parties cannot have a strong relationship with India unless they sever relations with those who seek to bring the battles of India's past to Canada, and sever relations with those who seek to divide the great country that is modern India,' he said. Harper also revealed that his government's 2006 decision to open a trade office in Modi's home state of Gujarat in 2009 was made 'completely contrary to the advice of Global Affairs Canada.' The Canadian Press has asked Harper's office why this decision went against public sector advice. Modi has been accused of failing to prevent sectarian violence between Hindus and Muslims in 2002 during his term as chief minister of Gujarat. Harper's Saturday comments come as New Delhi and Ottawa signal a desire to repair relations. Modi congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney shortly after his April election victory. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said she had a 'productive discussion' with her Indian counterpart on May 25 about 'deepening our economic co-operation and advancing shared priorities.' Those comments alarmed Sikh organizations, which accused Ottawa of putting economic concerns ahead of human rights. The Sikh Federation has called on Ottawa to break with a five-year tradition by not inviting Modi to the G7 summit this month in Kananaskis, Alta. Vina Nadjibulla, research vice-president for the Asia Pacific Foundation, said Canada can get relations with India back on track by creating a mechanism for law enforcement in both countries to allow them to discuss security concerns without overwhelming the bilateral relationship. 'That needs to be dealt with, but in its own track,' she said, proposing 'a mechanism to deal with this immediate issue, but also to build trust, and create a platform for dialogue.' Nadjibulla said Canada's failure to seek closer ties with India makes it an outlier among G7 countries, particularly when both countries are reworking their trade flows in response to American tariffs. She said the election of a new government in Canada and the upcoming G7 summit offer 'an opening' for a reset that could involve reinstating high commissioners or relaunching trade talks. 'Since 2019, India has been invited to every G7 in recognition of its growing importance, both as the fourth-largest economy as well as an important voice for the Global South,' she said. India will be a crucial player ensuring that the rules-based global order is respected, she argued. In February, Nadjibulla led an unofficial delegation of Canadian experts to India to look at how Ottawa could get relations with New Delhi back on track. The Crown corporation's resulting analysis, published last month, said India feels Canada mishandled the criminal investigation of the 1985 Air India bombing and hasn't done enough to thwart terrorism by Sikh separatists. The analysis said India's views, along with Canada's concerns about Indian repression and political interference, could be aired through a working group similar to a mechanism Washington launched after American investigators reported having foiled a murder plot against a Sikh activist in New York City. 'We need to proceed step by step and address the issues that are difficult. And at the heart of that are national security concerns, on both sides,' Nadjibulla said. This past February, Harper told a conference in India he didn't 'entirely understand' why Canada has such a poor relationship with New Delhi. At that time, Harper accused the Khalistan movement of 'infiltrating' the Liberal party and praised Modi 'for not disrupting those people-to-people ties,' even after India dropped diplomatic protection for most Canadian envoys in the country. The Liberals originally made India a major focus of their Indo-Pacific strategy in late 2022, describing the country as a democratic nation with strong trade potential. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Canada calls on Israel to abandon plans for new West Bank settlements
OTTAWA - Canada is calling on Israel to abandon plans unveiled Thursday to authorize 22 Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank which it says would be illegal. Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Arab–Israeli war and the Palestinians want all three territories for a future state. Global Affairs Canada says the proposed new settlements 'violate international law and undermine prospects for lasting peace and security via the two-state solution.' The Thursday decision would cover new settlements and legalize outposts already built without government authorization. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday that the decision 'constitutes a crushing response to Palestinian terrorism,' while a spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the decision a 'dangerous escalation' that could trigger more violence. Canada joined the U.K. and France this month in threatening to impose targeted sanctions against Israeli officials if they continue to expand settlements in the West Bank. Ottawa has repeatedly condemned mounting violence in the West Bank since a deadly October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel prompted months of bombardment of the Gaza Strip. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada calls on Israel to abandon plans for new West Bank settlements
OTTAWA – Canada is calling on Israel to abandon plans unveiled Thursday to authorize 22 Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank which it says would be illegal. Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Arab–Israeli war and the Palestinians want all three territories for a future state. Global Affairs Canada says the proposed new settlements 'violate international law and undermine prospects for lasting peace and security via the two-state solution.' The Thursday decision would cover new settlements and legalize outposts already built without government authorization. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday that the decision 'constitutes a crushing response to Palestinian terrorism,' while a spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the decision a 'dangerous escalation' that could trigger more violence. Canada joined the U.K. and France this month in threatening to impose targeted sanctions against Israeli officials if they continue to expand settlements in the West Bank. Ottawa has repeatedly condemned mounting violence in the West Bank since a deadly October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel prompted months of bombardment of the Gaza Strip. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
Canada Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Canada Standard
Canada diversifies trade in the Indo-Pacific region through the Team Canada Trade Mission to Thailand and Cambodia
May 30, 2025 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Global Affairs Canada Today, the Government of Canada concluded a successful Team Canada Trade Mission (TCTM) to Thailand and Cambodia. The delegation, led by Sara Wilshaw, Canada's Chief Trade Commissioner and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, International Trade, brought together more than 150 representatives from over 90 Canadian organizations, of which 80% are small and medium-sized enterprises, to explore the unique business opportunities that Thailand and Cambodia have to offer. As Canada works to build a stronger, more resilient economy, the Team Canada approach to trade missions is a proven tool that generates economic benefits for Canadians. As a key initiative under Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, this TCTM opened doors for Canadian businesses in a wide range of sectors to: form new connections in 2 of Southeast Asia's emerging markets diversify their trade strategies increase their resilience develop products and services that benefit Canada During the TCTM's business-to-business sessions, Ms. Wilshaw saw Canadian, Thai and Cambodian companies in action. She was impressed by the number of meaningful connections made between Canada and its trade partners through this trade mission. In Bangkok, Thailand, Ms. Wilshaw met with Dr. Nalinee Taveesin, President of Thailand Trade Representatives and Adviser to the Prime Minister of Thailand. She also spoke with members of the board of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and senior executives of the Charoen Pokphand Group, the largest Thai investor in Canada. In doing so, she highlighted Canada's work in expanding trade, investment and supply-chain resilience in the Indo-Pacific region. For example, she noted the opening of a 12th Export Development Canada representation in Bangkok, which helps Canadian companies diversify into the Indo-Pacific region, resulting in more and better business opportunities for Canadians. She also noted Canada's 15 free trade agreements, spanning 51 countries, as the foundation of Canada's trade-diversification efforts. In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Ms. Wilshaw met with Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and first vice-president of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, Sok Siphana, Senior Minister and Adviser to the Prime Minister; Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce; and Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. She spoke about mutual trade and investment priorities, sector-specific opportunities and the progress being made on a free trade agreement between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. She also highlighted Canada's commitment to deepening its engagement in Cambodia under Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. She noted that Canada's presence in Phnom Penh was upgraded to an embassy in March 2025 and that this TCTM was the largest-ever Canadian delegation to visit Cambodia.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'I was innocent': Ontario man returns home after arrest in Dominican Republic
When David Bennett decided to escape Canada's icy winter with a weeklong trip to the Dominican Republic, he never imagined he'd be fighting to get back on Canadian soil for more than two months. Bennett has finally returned to his Burlington, Ont., home after being arrested in the Caribbean country and accused of smuggling drugs. Even after the charges were withdrawn, he was stuck in the island nation for weeks due to court delays. He's now calling for more transparency from the federal government when it comes to assisting Canadians abroad. Bennett, his wife Jane Wilcox and some friends were on their way home from a Dominican Republic resort on March 7 when he was denied entry at a Punta Cana airport's automated customs gate, he said. He was taken to an interrogation room and initially thought it was just a brief misunderstanding. There, he and Wilcox were shown a photo of a bag they didn't recognize, with a slightly different name on it — Davi Bennett instead of David R. Bennett, he said. Though they were adamant the bag didn't belong to him, he said he was charged with trafficking drugs into the Dominican and told he could face up to 30 years in prison. "That was really scary and I was blown away. Like I was in disbelief that this was happening," Bennett said in a phone interview Thursday, nearly two weeks after returning home. "I certainly didn't expect it to evolve into what it did, that's for sure. Not in my wildest dreams did I think it would happen like that." Bennett recalled how he was handcuffed and later spent the night in a "small, overcrowded cell," shoulder-to-shoulder with other detainees and sitting in a corner for nearly nine hours. He managed to get a lawyer — whom he could only communicate with through Google Translate — and Wilcox paid a $5,000 bail, he said. He then spent the next several weeks bouncing around different accommodations as he and Wilcox fought to clear his name and get him back to Canada. When they learned the charges would be withdrawn, he was relieved, but only momentarily. "We were told that it would take roughly 10 to 15 days for that withdrawal to become official through the signing of a court order. We were concerned with the time frame, but we were told that there's a backlog in the system," Bennett said. "So we said, well, what other choice do we have other than to remain patient?" It took more than 15 days for the court order to be signed, he recalled, but then he was told it would take up to an additional two weeks for the travel ban to be lifted. "My mental state was really rough those last five weeks waiting," said Bennett. "The anticipation and the waiting was really the most difficult part." Meanwhile in Ontario, Wilcox was rallying as much support as she could, Bennett said, as she and other community members reached out to their local member of Parliament Karina Gould and Anita Anand, who is now foreign affairs minister. On May 15, Bennett said he learned from Global Affairs Canada that his travel ban had been lifted through a verbal agreement with Dominican authorities, and they immediately booked a flight for the next day. "We literally willed our way through at that point because the paperwork hadn't been finalized yet. And we connected with Global Affairs Canada and told them that we're going to the airport, please ensure the paperwork is there to support us," he recalled. The next day, when he boarded his plane to Toronto, he "never felt really comfortable" until the wheels left the tarmac. "Even when I was on the aircraft, even though I was innocent, I had in the back of my mind, 'What's going to go wrong here?' Like something's not going to work out here," he said. "So I was really, really nervous for the entire time." The flight gave him an "amazing feeling," he said, and his reunion with his wife was even better. In total, Bennett said he spent 71 days stuck in the Dominican, getting few hours of sleep, rapidly losing weight and ultimately racking up more than $80,000 in legal fees and accommodation costs. Though he's back home now, Bennett said he still has unanswered questions about what happened that day at the Punta Cana airport. "I'd like to really fully understand what has transpired and how it transpired, how this can never happen in the future," he said. Bennett added he wants Canadian officials to be more transparent in the steps they're taking to help Canadians stuck abroad. During his time in the Dominican, he and Wilcox were in communication with Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian Embassy, he said, but officials gave them few updates or details on his case, which he called "frustrating." Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian Embassy in the Dominican Republic did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "I do believe Canadians deserve better," Bennett said. "We need to be way more supportive of our Canadian citizens when they travel." For Canadians going abroad, Bennett said they should consider only taking a carry-on and if they check a bag, to keep track of the luggage tag. Bennett also recommends checking the federal government's travel advisories before choosing a destination. Now that he's back in Canada, Bennett said he's spending as much time with family as he can and taking steps to recover physically and mentally. Before the incident, Bennett said he was never much of a traveller, but his detention has actually made him want to travel more. "I have a little bit of a thirst for travel through this because I want to live my life and I want to enjoy," said Bennett. "There's so many beautiful places to see in this world and it hasn't ruined my want to do more things." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025. Rianna Lim, The Canadian Press
