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CTV News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
RCMP commissioner calls cooperation with India over Nijjar killing ‘good,' focused on ‘rebuilding' relationship
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme and Alberta RCMP Commanding Officer Trevor Daroux speak about the challenges involved in securing the G7 Summit in Kananaskis. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme is describing ongoing talks with Indian officials over the killing of a Canadian Sikh leader as 'good' after India previously refused to cooperate. 'We are rebuilding these relationships. The conversations have been positive, and we're looking at planning other meetings with them as well,' Duheme said in an exclusive interview with CTV's Power Play on Thursday. Duheme's comments come after Prime Minister Mark Carney defended his decision to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at next week's G7 summit amid recent tense relations between the two countries. In 2023, former prime minister Justin Trudeau said there were 'credible allegations' that agents of the Indian government were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar earlier that year. Four Indian nationals have since been charged in Nijjar's death. The following year, the RCMP accused the Indian government of playing a role in 'widespread violence' in Canada, including homicides and extortion. Those allegations led to diplomats being expelled from both countries. Asked by reporters last week about the invite, Carney said he and Modi agreed to continue 'law enforcement to law enforcement dialogue.' Carney also said there's been 'some progress' on issues of accountability. When asked by host Mike Le Couteur if there has been any progress on the investigation into Nijjar's death, Duheme said, 'the matter is before the courts right now.' 'The RCMP has engaged with its counterparts in India, and we are rebuilding that relationship. We want to fight the same crimes. We have common interest in it, and it's important to keep on building that relationship with our Indian counterparts,' Duheme added. Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill on Thursday, Sikh groups called on Carney to revoke Modi's invite to the G7. 'The invitation to Narendra Modi to the G7 summit should be withdrawn unless India cooperates with Canadian law enforcement in the ongoing investigations and pledges to no longer interfere in Canada and no longer target Sikhs in Canada,' Balpreet Singh said, who is the legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada. The groups are also asking the Liberal government to immediately stop any intelligence-sharing with India. When pressed on those concerns from the Sikh community surrounding Modi's visit to Canada, Duheme said security will be ensured. 'The RCMP is not responsible for inviting any guests for this G7. This was decision by Mr. Carney, and we will work closely to ensure the security while Mr. Modi is here during the G7,' Duheme said. 'And if there's any concerns, I invite the community to reach out to our liaison officer program, and we can address them.' In a previous interview with CTV's Question Period last October, Duheme said there was a 'significant reduction' to the public safety threat after six Indian diplomats were expelled from Canada. Asked if the threat level has changed since those comments, Duheme said, 'we're at the same position that we were. We've seen a decrease.' 'We've done a lot of proactive work with law enforcement. We've set up a task force that was based out of B.C. to ensure coordinated approach from what we're seeing in Edmonton as well as Ontario. So I think we've had success in how we handle all this,' he said. Modi and his government has long condemned the Khalistan movement that supports the establishment of an independent Sikh state in India. RCMP on G7 security: 'Changing landscape a threat' The RCMP-led Integrated Safety and Security Group (ISSG) is responsible for ensuring the summit goes smoothly from a security standpoint. The Mounties has been working with partners and other law enforcement agencies, including the Calgary Police Service and the Canadian Armed Forces, and leveraging experience from all levels. 'We're well prepared to deal with any eventuality, and we have to consider not just the individuals, but we have to consider the changing landscape a threat,' Trevor Daroux, who is the commanding officer of the Albert RCMP, said in a joint interview with Duheme on CTV's Power Play. 'That's part of our planning process and our preparations, and we're well placed for that.' The same summit was held in Kananaskis, Alta. when it was the G8 back in 2002. Daroux admits the threat landscape has changed with potential threats coming from the ground and air, but he says the natural landscape does also help. 'Geography itself limits access,' Daroux said. 'It presents natural barriers to entering the location. But we have to secure that area.' These types of summits can attract massive protests and the RCMP has set up designated demonstration zones in Calgary and in nearby Banff. While each of the zones will be a one-hour drive from the actual summit, the RCMP says the protest areas will be equipped with 'infrastructure to broadcast demonstrators' messages to G7 leaders and delegations in Kananaskis'. 'So part of this is cooperation,' Daroux said. 'How do we facilitate your ability to get the message across? And I can tell you, a lot of groups are willing to work in that direction.' Some other security elements will include mobile command centres, drones and police and military deployed on ATVs. The RCMP has also established air restrictions over Calgary and Kananaskis that will be in effect from June 14-17. You can watch the full interview with the RCMP at the top of this article
CBC
27-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
RCMP, CBSA heads discuss Canada's recent fentanyl seizures
Erin O'Gorman, president of the Canada Border Services Agency, and Mike Duheme, RCMP commissioner, were in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to discuss the latest results of Operation Blizzard, a cross-border project aimed at intercepting fentanyl and other drugs, as U.S. tariffs loomed over the Canadian economy.
Associated Press
29-01-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
RCMP, Toronto Police Service and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police collaborate to examine the role of police in responding to persons in crisis
TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2025 /CNW/ - The RCMP, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) hosted a Chiefs of Police workshop, bringing together a representative group of urban, rural, Indigenous and provincial police agencies, academics, and training experts from across Canada to discuss the role of law enforcement in responding to calls of persons in crisis. Regardless of the location in Canada, police are often the first responders to persons in crisis, yet the public and police themselves have increasingly questioned the role of police in such interactions, particularly when there is no imminent threat to public or individual safety. Canadian police agencies understand the important role of mental health professionals and other social services in this realm and continue to support a collaborative approach to responding to individuals in need. The RCMP, TPS and CACP aimed to foster dialogue and collaboration among police leaders and other experts to share experiences, explore challenges and opportunities, identify gaps, and learn from different response models and partnerships across jurisdictions. The workshop discussion welcomed Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, who joined virtually to share his agency's experience using the Right Care, Right Person model. This model aims to ensure that the most appropriate agency responds to health-related calls, instead of the police being the default first responder. The model has been shown to improve outcomes, reduce demand on all services, and make sure the right care is being delivered by the right person. The workshop provided participating police agencies with the opportunity to share experiences, discuss response models and explore approaches that reflect the unique needs of their communities. The collaborative approach, interest and engagement demonstrated at the workshop speaks directly to the commitment from Canadian law enforcement to ensure an appropriate, effective and efficient response and better outcomes for the person in crisis. Quotes We know that the number of mental health calls directed to police have been increasing. Addressing the root causes of these issues requires a sustained, long-term, consistent, collaborative and well-resourced effort from all levels of government. We must continue to work together to put the supports and resources in place, so police are not the only responders to persons in crisis. - Mike Duheme, Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police I want to thank all the police leaders and experts from across Canada who are embracing new approaches that recognize that what mental health patients and neuro-divergent people need, is a health care response, not a police-led response. The Toronto Police Service is committed to working with our health care partners in a way that recognizes 'Mental Health is Health.' - Chief Myron Demkiw, Toronto Police Service Today was an opportunity for police leaders to share and explore best practices being led by Canadian police services and to focus on forward-looking, proactive and long-term solutions to mitigating the public safety risks associated to responding to persons in crisis by ensuring individuals in need of mental health care have access to the proactive and reactive health and social services they require.
