Latest news with #Indo-Canadians
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Six Indo-Canadians among 9 arrested in drug seizure worth $36.5mn
Toronto: Nine people, including six Indo-Canadians, have been arrested and charged in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in what local law enforcement described as 'largest drug seizure' in the history of the region. The arrests were made in connection with a transnational cocaine smuggling network, and the operation, 'Project Pelican', was undertaken by the Peel Regional Police (PRP), working with partners including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the US Drug Enforcement Administration, and US Homeland Security Investigations Border Enforcement Task Force in Detroit. 'The investigation, Project Pelican, marks the largest drug seizure in the service's history – with nearly CAD 50 million ($36.5 million) worth of cocaine seized,' a release from PRP said. Authorities seized 479 kg of bricked cocaine along with two illegal semi-automatic loaded handguns. The investigation started in June 2024. In June 2024, with police probing the ring that was using US-Canada commercial trucking routes, and by November, 'multiple individuals, trucking companies, and storage sites linked to the operation were identified.' As of June 6, nine accused have been arrested and face in total, 35 charges related to firearm and drug offences. They were identified as Hao Tommy Huynh, a 27-year-old resident of Mississauga, Sajgith Yogendrarajah, 31, from Toronto, Manpreet Singh, 44, from Brampton, Philip Tep, 39, from Hamilton, Arvinder Powar, 29, from Brampton, Karamjit Singh, 36, from Caledon, Gurtej Singh, 36, from Caledon, Sartaj Singh 27, from Cambridge and Shiv Onkar Singh, 31, from Georgetown. Between February and May 2025, CBSA intercepted a commercial truck at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, leading to the seizure of 127 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in the trailer and the arrest of the driver, and agency, supported by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), intercepted another truck at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, which led to the seizure of 50 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden within the trailer and the arrest of the driver. 'Additional seizures were also made across the GTA in connection with commercial trucking by Peel Regional Police, some of which included individuals in possession of loaded firearms at the time of arrest,' the release added. 'This seizure marks the largest drug seizure in the history of our service. Organised crime continues to exploit borders and pose serious threats to public safety. However, we remain firmly committed to working with our partners to protect our communities and enhance safety in our region and beyond,' PRP chief Nishan Duraiappah said. Michael Prosia, CBSA's Regional Director General – Southern Ontario, noted, 'These significant seizures and arrests demonstrate the strength of our collaboration with law enforcement partners on both sides of the border. Together, we are committed to dismantling organized crime groups and keeping harmful drugs out of our communities.'
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Indo-Canadian groups support the visit of Indian PM to the G7 leaders' summit
Toronto: While pro-Khalistan elements campaigned over the weekend against the participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 leaders' summit being hosted by Canada this month, several Indo-Canadians groups have supported the invitation and stressed that anti-India protesters may be loud but they comprise a fraction of the community. Among those supporting the initiative of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to invite his Indian counterpart of the summit in Kananaskis in Alberta in mid-June was Radio India managing director Maninder Gill. He said, 'We have received a lot of calls from our listeners at Radio India welcoming PM Modi's visit to Canada. I congratulate PM Carney for putting Canada first, diaspora politics cannot guide Canada's foreign policy. Fringe sectarian groups cannot hold the India-Canada relationship as hostage.' Gill, who also leads the Friends of Canada and India Foundation, had written to Carney earlier asking the PM to invite Modi and received an acknowledgement from the prime minister's office stating the concerns he had raised had been 'carefully read' and that the remarks had been forwarded to Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand for 'her information and consideration'. 'Those opposing PM Modi's visit to Canada do not represent the entire Sikh community, the membership of these groups limited to couple of hundred people in a 2 million strong diaspora,' Gill asserted. The Hindu Canadian Foundation also praised Carney, saying the PM was 'demonstrating strong leadership by staying true to his commitment to put Canada first. He remains steadfast in his vision, focusing on what truly benefits Canadians without yielding to external pressures'. In a post on X, Canada India Foundation chair Ritesh Malik said Carney 'did the right thing for us Canadians' by inviting Modi. 'Only people who don't like this is shallow minded, selfish, self-centred who pretend to be Canadians & work on their hateful agenda,' he added. But opponents of the invite made their presence felt over the weekend during protests in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area. On display were tableaux depicting Indian leaders behind bars for the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey on June 18, 2023. The secessionist group Sikhs for Justice has planned a 'convoy' to the G7 to protest Modi's presence there, and given a call to 'Ambush Modi's Politics' for 48 hours on June 16 and June 17. The leaders' summit is scheduled for June 15-17 and the venue adjoins the city of Calgary.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Fast-tracking India, Canada relations
Liberal Party leader Mark Carney's victory in Canada's general election sparked hopes for the rebuilding of the relationship with India, which touched an all-time low after his predecessor Justin Trudeau's allegations about an Indian link to the murder of a pro-Khalistan separatist. The phone call between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand appears to be another step aimed at the resetting of bilateral ties. During their conversation on Sunday, the two ministers explored ways to strengthen bilateral relations and economic cooperation against the backdrop of speculation in diplomatic circles that India and Canada are set to post new high commissioners in each other's capitals – they withdrew them after Trudeau's allegations -- and resume talks on a trade deal that stalled two years ago. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Carney's emergence as the new Canadian Prime Minister, there was little movement at the level of the top political leadership of the two countries – till Sunday. Both Carney and Anand have previously spoken about the importance of Canada's relations with India and a clear signal about the reset of the relationship getting underway will be an invitation for Modi to attend the outreach session of the G7 Summit to be hosted by Canada next month. There are compelling reasons for a reset in bilateral relations despite the blow dealt by Trudeau's accusation and the subsequent downgrading of diplomatic ties. In recent years, two-way trade in goods and services has hovered at around $20 billion, with considerable potential for growth, and Canada has emerged as a key supplier of items ranging from lentils to uranium ore. Given the Trump administration's repeated targeting of Canada on trade issues, New Delhi should be an ideal candidate in Ottawa's search for new economic partners. Canada is also home to almost 1.8 million Indo-Canadians and another million non-resident Indians, one of the largest Indian diasporas anywhere. The Canadian side has firmed up an Indo-Pacific strategy that perceives India as a critical partner because of the common commitment of the two countries to a rules-based international system at a time when China has stepped up its aggressive activities in the region. The security agencies of the two countries have also resumed engagements on a range of issues related to the activities of pro-Khalistan elements and trans-national criminal gangs. In all these efforts, Anand appears better placed than her predecessors to protect Canada's interests while simultaneously taking on board India's concerns about the Khalistan issue. Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Anita Anand appointed as Canada's new Foreign Minister; Maninder Sidhu given International Trade in Cabinet reshuffle
Indo-Canadians Anita Anand and Maninder Sidhu have landed important portfolios in the new cabinet announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney after reshuffle. While Ms. Anand was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sidhu is the new Minister for International Trade in the new cabinet announced on Tuesday. Mr. Carney announced the reshuffle almost two weeks after his Liberal Party won the federal elections in Canada. He had replaced Justin Trudeau months ahead of the elections. Canada's new Cabinet. — Prime Minister of Canada (@CanadianPM) May 13, 2025 Ms. Anand, 58, was the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry before the polls and in the past has served in the roles including of defence minister. She replaced Melanie Joly, who is now the Minister of Industry. 'I am honoured to be named Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs. I look forward to working with Prime Minister Mark Carney and our team to build a safer, fairer world and deliver for Canadians,' Ms. Anand, an MP from Oakville East, posted on X soon after taking oath. Mr. Sidhu, 41, also took to X after swearing-in and said, it is an 'honour of a lifetime' to be appointed as Canada's International Trade Minister. 'I'm grateful to Prime Minister @MarkJCarney for the confidence he's placed in me to diversify trade, support Canadian businesses in reaching new global markets, and help create good-paying jobs across Canada,' he said. 'I'm proud to stand alongside my colleagues as we work together to build the fastest-growing economy in the G7,' he added in the post on X. Mr. Sidhu's appointment as the Minister for International Trade comes at a time when Canada is battling the Trump administration's aggression towards Canada on tariffs. Ms. Anand, who was a front-runner in the race to be the next Prime Minister to replace Trudeau, had in January declared that she is backing out from the race and also that she would not be seeking re-election. However, she had reversed the decision on March 1 saying, 'Canada is facing a crucial moment in our nation's history.' Born and raised in rural Nova Scotia, Ms. Anand moved to Ontario in 1985. The Prime Minister of Canada's website mentions that Ms. Anand was first elected as a Member of Parliament for Oakville in 2019 and previously served as President of the Treasury Board, as Minister of National Defence, and as Minister of Public Services and Procurement. 'Anand has worked as a scholar, lawyer, and researcher. She has been a legal academic, including as a Professor of Law at the University of Toronto, where she held the J R Kimber Chair in Investor Protection and Corporate Governance,' it said and listed her other academic achievements too. According to Mr. Sidhu's website, the entrepreneur has been an MP from Brampton East since 2019 and for over four years, he has also been a Parliamentary Secretary at Global Affairs Canada 'helping to strengthen diplomatic relations, promoting international trade, and supporting international development.' The Canadian Prrime Minister's new Cabinet has 28 Ministers and they would be supported by 10 Secretaries of State who will provide 'dedicated leadership on key issues and priorities within their minister's portfolio,' a statement said Tuesday. Among the Secretaries – basically Junior Ministers – is Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development). He is a member of parliament from Surrey Centre. 'Canada, meet your new Cabinet. This is a team that is empowered and expected to lead. Together, we will create a new economic and security relationship with the United States and build a stronger economy — the strongest economy in the G7,' Carney said in a post on X as he shared a small video of the team together. Soon after, Mr. Carney shared another post on X where he shared a photo of the new cabinet team members standing behind him as he addressed the media and said: 'Canada has a new government. No matter how you voted, we are in your service. Together, we will build a stronger, more united Canada.'
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Trump floats ‘marriage' with Canada, PM Carney fires back: 'Not for sale'
Amid the ongoing tariff tensions, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday held his first face-to-face talks with newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The meeting signals a possible reset in US-Canada relations, which took a hit after Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump engaged in a meeting at the White House in Washington.(AP) The meeting, held at the White House, began with smiles, handshakes, and flashes from eager photographers. Also Read | Trump's cold welcome for Canada PM Carney ahead of White House meet: 'We don't need anything' The meeting comes days after Carney's Liberal Party won the April 28 election on promises to tackle Trump and create a new bilateral economic and security relationship with the United States. What did Trump and Carney say about Canada becoming 51st US state? As US President Trump and Canadian Carney made an appearance, the subject of Donald Trump's repeated calls for China to merge with the United States as its 51st state quickly came up from reporters. "We're not going to be discussing that unless somebody wants to discuss it," Trump said. "It would really be a wonderful marriage." Also Read | 'Leave Canada': Indo-Canadians outraged over threat from pro-Khalistan supporter To this Carney, responded firmly, saying, "It's not for sale, it won't be for sale - ever," he told Trump in the Oval Office. "Never say never, never say never," Trump responded. Trump, whose tariff policy has rattled world markets, said he and Carney would discuss "tough points," an allusion to the president's belief that the United States can do without Canadian products. "Regardless of anything, we're going to be friends with Canada," he said. Shortly before Carney arrived, Trump posted a message on social media. Also Read | Canada federal polls: Jagmeet Singh replaced as NDP leader after party's heavy defeat "I very much want to work with him, but cannot understand one simple TRUTH — Why is America subsidising Canada by $200 billion a year, in addition to giving them FREE Military Protection, and many other things? We don't need their Cars, we don't need their Energy, we don't need their Lumber, we don't need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship, which hopefully we will always maintain. They, on the other hand, need EVERYTHING from us!" Trump appeared to be referring to the trade deficit the U.S. has with Canada due mostly to American imports of Canadian oil, although Canada's merchandise trade surplus was C$102.3 billion ($74.25 billion) in 2024. (with inputs from Reuters)
