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Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Mark Carney accused of dismissing Sikh's concerns by inviting India's Narendra Modi to G7 summit
OTTAWA—Sikh leaders are accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of putting economic interests ahead of concerns about their community's safety in inviting Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to next week's G7 summit amid allegations of threats from the Indian government. At a press conference on Parliament Hill, leaders of the World Sikh Organization and the B.C. Gurdwaras Council also raised concerns about a Global News report that former NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was being tracked by an Indian government agent while he was the elected leader of a major Canadian political party. Singh told the Star in April that he, his wife and his family were placed under 24-hour armed RCMP protection because of credible death threats linked to unspecified foreign government interference. 'That's absolutely unprecedented. As far as we're concerned, that's an act of war,' World Sikh Organization lawyer Balpreet Singh told reporters Thursday, referring to the Global News allegations against India. 'If Jagmeet Singh, who is the highest profile Sikh in Canada, isn't safe, then what does that mean for the rest of us?' Audrey Champoux, a spokesperson from Carney's office, did not address the report about the former NDP leader, but provided a statement to the Star that defended the government's invitation to Modi. 'As prime minister of the fifth-largest economy and the world's most populous country, Prime Minister Modi was invited to participate in some of these critical discussions,' Champoux's statement said of the G7. 'Importantly, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Modi agreed to continued law enforcement dialogue and discussions to address serious security concerns.' The Indian High Commission in Ottawa did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. The Star was not able to reach the former NDP leader. Gurratan Singh, the former NDP leader's brother and a former New Democrat MPP at Queen's Park, condemned the federal government for 'rolling out the red carpet' for Modi in what seemed like placing business interests over the safety of Sikh Canadians. 'It's completely unacceptable. Sadly, it's not shocking. And more than anything it reaffirms this feeling of betrayal,' Gurratan said, echoing the calls to cancel Modi's invitation. On Parliament Hill, Balpreet Singh called on the Liberal government to rescind the invitation for Modi to attend the G7 meetings in Kananaskis, Alta. next week. They also demanded a public inquiry into Indian government activity in Canada, and for the government to cancel all intelligence-sharing that occurs with India. Balpreet Singh added that Carney's justification for inviting Modi, in which he spoke to reporters about ongoing police investigations and supply chains with the Asian economic power, 'felt like a betrayal' to Sikh Canadians. Moninder Singh, a spokesperson for the B.C. Gurdwaras Council and Sikh Federation Canada added: 'We do have a problem where we're seeing trade and economic ties that are now overriding human rights and the lives of Canadian citizens and their safety.' He said his organization is considering telling Liberal MPs to visit their Gurdwaras. 'For us, it's a deep sense of betrayal at the moment,' he said. Carney said last week that he would press India to co-operate on law enforcement investigations following the stunning allegations in 2023 from then-prime minister Justin Trudeau, who said there was credible evidence linking agents of the Indian government to the killing of Sikh independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Gurdwara in B.C.'s Lower Mainland. The allegation rocked Canada's diplomatic relationship with India, as Modi's Hindu nationalist government denied any link to the killing and accused Canada of failing to provide evidence. Last October, the RCMP detailed further allegations that Indian diplomats and consular officials in Canada are tied to murders, violence, intimidation and threats against Canadians. That same month, the federal government expelled six Indian diplomats, alleging they were collecting information about Canadians and passing it along to organized crime groups. 'Canada has to send a clear message right now. It will not tolerate foreign interference, nor will it reward a government that targets Canadian citizens on Canadian soil,' said Moninder Singh, who also said he has been warned of threats and forced to live away from his family for months to protect his children. 'The government has to reconsider Mr. Modi's invitation and rescind,' he said. Some Liberal MPs have also raised concerns about Modi's attendance. On Wednesday, British Columbia's Sukh Dhaliwal told reporters he met with Carney to discuss the issue earlier in the day. 'It's not a good idea, but now he's invited. We have to move forward,' Dhaliwal said of the Modi invitation. He added that Carney is 'alarmed about the issue and he will be very strong when it comes to dealing with those issues that are important to Canadians.' NDP MP Jenny Kwan also expressed concerns about Modi's invitation, calling it 'so shocking' in light of the allegations against his government. She also said police should consider providing Jagmeet Singh, who lost his seat in the April 28 election and resigned as NDP leader, personal protection. 'I don't know what the prime minister is trying to achieve, but one thing that he needs to achieve is to say to Canadians and to demonstrate to Canadians that foreign interference is serious, that he is taking it seriously, and transnational repression is something that we will not tolerate,' Kwan said. In the House of Commons, Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe called for the government to cancel invitations to Modi, and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed, president of the United Arab Emirates. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand responded that the G7 is an important forum for international leaders, where they will have 'necessary conversations' about protecting the Canadian population. 'That is our absolute priority,' she said in French. An official briefing journalists on condition of anonymity about the G7 summit said leaders are expected to arrive in Alberta on Sunday, with meetings and discussions on various issues scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday. The official said Carney will strive to have individual meetings with every leader that attends. They also said the agenda will include discussion of foreign interference and how to stop 'transnational repression.' To Balpreet Singh, the federal government under Carney is failing to stand up for the Sikh community, including by failing to respond to a letter about his concerns that he sent to the Prime Minister's Office last month. He called for concrete measures like cancelling intelligence-sharing to show the government is serious, even if it allows Modi to attend next week's summit. 'It doesn't feel as though this is being treated like a Canadian issue. It's being treated as though it's just those brown people. It's just the Sikh,' Balpreet Singh said. 'What needs to happen for Canada to wake up, for our government to take this seriously? What more needs to happen? Do we need to have more dead people on the streets?' With a file from Mark Ramzy
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Mark Carney accused of dismissing Sikh's concerns by inviting India's Narendra Modi to G7 summit
OTTAWA—Sikh leaders are accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of putting economic interests ahead of concerns about their community's safety in inviting Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to next week's G7 summit amid allegations of threats from the Indian government. At a press conference on Parliament Hill, leaders of the World Sikh Organization and the B.C. Gurdwaras Council also raised concerns about a Global News report that former NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was being tracked by an Indian government agent while he was the elected leader of a major Canadian political party. Contributors Opinion Leaders in both India and Pakistan stand to benefit from the escalating attacks in Kashmir Rashid Husain Syed Contributor Singh told the Star in April that he, his wife and his family were placed under 24-hour armed RCMP protection because of credible death threats linked to unspecified foreign government interference. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'That's absolutely unprecedented. As far as we're concerned, that's an act of war,' World Sikh Organization lawyer Balpreet Singh told reporters Thursday, referring to the Global News allegations against India. 'If Jagmeet Singh, who is the highest profile Sikh in Canada, isn't safe, then what does that mean for the rest of us?' Audrey Champoux, a spokesperson from Carney's office, did not address the report about the former NDP leader, but provided a statement to the Star that defended the government's invitation to Modi. 'As prime minister of the fifth-largest economy and the world's most populous country, Prime Minister Modi was invited to participate in some of these critical discussions,' Champoux's statement said of the G7. 'Importantly, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Modi agreed to continued law enforcement dialogue and discussions to address serious security concerns.' The Indian High Commission in Ottawa did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The Star was not able to reach the former NDP leader. Gurratan Singh, the former NDP leader's brother and a former New Democrat MPP at Queen's Park, condemned the federal government for 'rolling out the red carpet' for Modi in what seemed like placing business interests over the safety of Sikh Canadians. 'It's completely unacceptable. Sadly, it's not shocking. And more than anything it reaffirms this feeling of betrayal,' Gurratan said, echoing the calls to cancel Modi's invitation. On Parliament Hill, Balpreet Singh called on the Liberal government to rescind the invitation for Modi to attend the G7 meetings in Kananaskis, Alta. next week. They also demanded a public inquiry into Indian government activity in Canada, and for the government to cancel all intelligence-sharing that occurs with India. Balpreet Singh added that Carney's justification for inviting Modi, in which he spoke to reporters about ongoing police investigations and supply chains with the Asian economic power, 'felt like a betrayal' to Sikh Canadians. Moninder Singh, a spokesperson for the B.C. Gurdwaras Council and Sikh Federation Canada added: 'We do have a problem where we're seeing trade and economic ties that are now overriding human rights and the lives of Canadian citizens and their safety.' He said his organization is considering telling Liberal MPs to visit their Gurdwaras. 'For us, it's a deep sense of betrayal at the moment,' he said. Carney said last week that he would press India to co-operate on law enforcement investigations following the stunning allegations in 2023 from then-prime minister Justin Trudeau, who said there was credible evidence linking agents of the Indian government to the killing of Sikh independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Gurdwara in B.C.'s Lower Mainland. The allegation rocked Canada's diplomatic relationship with India, as Modi's Hindu nationalist government denied any link to the killing and accused Canada of failing to provide evidence. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Last October, the RCMP detailed further allegations that Indian diplomats and consular officials in Canada are tied to murders, violence, intimidation and threats against Canadians. That same month, the federal government expelled six Indian diplomats, alleging they were collecting information about Canadians and passing it along to organized crime groups. 'Canada has to send a clear message right now. It will not tolerate foreign interference, nor will it reward a government that targets Canadian citizens on Canadian soil,' said Moninder Singh, who also said he has been warned of threats and forced to live away from his family for months to protect his children. 'The government has to reconsider Mr. Modi's invitation and rescind,' he said. Some Liberal MPs have also raised concerns about Modi's attendance. On Wednesday, British Columbia's Sukh Dhaliwal told reporters he met with Carney to discuss the issue earlier in the day. 'It's not a good idea, but now he's invited. We have to move forward,' Dhaliwal said of the Modi invitation. He added that Carney is 'alarmed about the issue and he will be very strong when it comes to dealing with those issues that are important to Canadians.' NDP MP Jenny Kwan also expressed concerns about Modi's invitation, calling it 'so shocking' in light of the allegations against his government. She also said police should consider providing Jagmeet Singh, who lost his seat in the April 28 election and resigned as NDP leader, personal protection. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'I don't know what the prime minister is trying to achieve, but one thing that he needs to achieve is to say to Canadians and to demonstrate to Canadians that foreign interference is serious, that he is taking it seriously, and transnational repression is something that we will not tolerate,' Kwan said. In the House of Commons, Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe called for the government to cancel invitations to Modi, and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed, president of the United Arab Emirates. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand responded that the G7 is an important forum for international leaders, where they will have 'necessary conversations' about protecting the Canadian population. 'That is our absolute priority,' she said in French. An official briefing journalists on condition of anonymity about the G7 summit said leaders are expected to arrive in Alberta on Sunday, with meetings and discussions on various issues scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday. The official said Carney will strive to have individual meetings with every leader that attends. They also said the agenda will include discussion of foreign interference and how to stop 'transnational repression.' To Balpreet Singh, the federal government under Carney is failing to stand up for the Sikh community, including by failing to respond to a letter about his concerns that he sent to the Prime Minister's Office last month. He called for concrete measures like cancelling intelligence-sharing to show the government is serious, even if it allows Modi to attend next week's summit. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'It doesn't feel as though this is being treated like a Canadian issue. It's being treated as though it's just those brown people. It's just the Sikh,' Balpreet Singh said. 'What needs to happen for Canada to wake up, for our government to take this seriously? What more needs to happen? Do we need to have more dead people on the streets?' With a file from Mark Ramzy Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. 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. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Inviting Narenda Modi to the G7 summit was the right move for Mark Carney
Stephen Harper was right about India. And Mark Carney was right to invite India's Narendra Modi to next week's G7 summit in Canada. As a former Canadian prime minister offering advice to the current PM, Harper argued persuasively this month that Canada needs to move on from the latest impasse with India. Carney did precisely that because the time was right. Many Sikh Canadians bristled over the decision. Human rights critics argued that Carney moved too fast. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW But the world of law and order is changing in the new world order. As a middle power caught between the big players, Canada doesn't have as many choices — or as many choice friends and allies — as it might have once imagined. Justin Trudeau liked to say, upon defeating Harper as prime minister a decade ago, that the world needs more Canada. But Canada has moved on from Trudeau — and the world has moved on, too. The world doesn't much need Canada anymore. Today, it wants India more than ever. Canada, too, needs India, the world's largest democracy and most populous nation. As this year's host for the summit of industrialized nations, Canada plays a special role convening all seven member countries — and inviting guest leaders, like Modi, to join them in Alberta next week. It's an exclusive club that operates by consensus, which means we can't just pick and choose who's invited, who's disinvited and who displeases us. In truth, we're in the club and it's our turn to convene, but it's not our club to reconfigure. Federal Politics Analysis Mark Carney prepares for G7 summit littered with potential landmines Tonda MacCharles As G7 host, we don't just invite who we like. We invite who matters. That's diplomacy. That's the compromise of politics and the reality of realpolitik. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW That's not to say Canada was wrong to call out allegations of Indian misconduct at the bilateral level in late 2023. But at the multilateral level in 2025, we need to pick our fights and choose our timing. It has been nearly two years since Canada publicized and protested 'credible allegations' linking agents of India to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver. India dismissed the allegations and bilateral ties plummeted. Of course, when the United States made related allegations of Indian misconduct on American soil, India's government had a more measured and co-operative response. But at the end of the day, the U.S. and India moved on — not because the indictment didn't matter, but because national interests also matter. America needs and wants India as a counterweight to China. Canada, too, needs counterweights — not just against China but America. In today's beggar-thy-neighbour world, beggars can't be choosy. Middle powers can't be fussy. Canada is still reeling from the rupture in relations with China, when Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were held hostage over the Huawei affair pitting U.S. commercial and criminal interests against those of China. Today, Canada is once again talking to China and trying to rebuild relations despite the bad blood. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Canada has barely recovered from the disruption of relations with Saudi Arabia in 2018, when criticism of its human rights record led to commercial retaliation and the sudden withdrawal of its medical students from Canadian universities. Against that backdrop, Canada can't stay mad at so many countries for so long. Bilateral irritants are real and human rights matter, but international relations and commercial ruptures can have enormous fallout — as our farmers in Saskatchewan can attest after bearing the brunt of Chinese retaliation over exports from the prairies. Canada cannot hold out forever against two of the most populous countries on the planet (China and India) and one of its richest nations (Saudi Arabia). We cannot fight everyone else at once. That explains why Carney has belatedly reached out to Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salman to attend the summit. The crown prince was an outlaw and an outlier amid allegations that his intelligence services killed dissident Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, but even America's then-president Joe Biden set aside his harsh rebukes to meet bin Salman in Saudi Arabia when the time came. India is a consequential country that matters in any global discussion about trade, climate change and health. It cannot be wished away or put on hold. Two decades ago, ahead of another such summit for the G8 (as it was then called, before a warmongering Russia was disinvited), I was assigned to write about India's challenges because its then-prime minister, Manmohan Singh, was invited to attend. Then as now, India was at the table with industrialized nations as a rising global power. Canada, like the G7, can't afford to exclude India — or Saudi Arabia or China or America. No truck or trade for their transgressions? That's a dead end given the obstacles facing Canada today. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. 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. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
