Canada hosts one of the largest Indian Diasporas in the world, which accounts for more than 4 per cent of its total population…reports Asian Lite News
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended greetings to Hindu Canadians on the first day of Navratri on Thursday.
“Tonight, Hindu communities in Canada and around the world will celebrate the beginning of the festival of Navratri. It celebrates the victory of good over evil and light over darkness,” he said in a statement, adding that for those celebrating, the “next nine nights will see families and friends come together with prayer, music, and to spend time with loved ones”.
Describing Hindu Canadians as an integral part of Canada, Trudeau said: “Their festivals and celebrations, like Navratri, are also our festivals. The joy, celebration, and diversity that Hindu Canadians exemplify, makes us stronger as a country.”
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I extend my warmest wishes of happiness and prosperity to all those celebrating Navratri,” he added.
Hinduism is the third-largest religion in Canada, with approximately 2.3 per cent of the nation’s total population identifying as Hindu in the 2021 census.
Canada also hosts one of the largest Indian Diasporas in the world, which accounts for more than 4 per cent of its total population.
Severely criticising the petition, Arya, who is of Indian origin, made a statement in the Parliament early Friday (India time), calling the petition as an attempt by the Khalistani extremists to promote new conspiracy theories….reports Asian Lite News
Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya, a vocal critic of the Justin Trudeau government for giving refuge to pro-Khalistani elements in the country, has slammed a new petition initiated by Liberal Party MP Sukh Dhaliwal relating to the Air India Kanishka bombings of June 23, 1985, that left 329 people dead and was the worst tragedy in the history of aviation terror before the 9/11 attacks.
The petition, which is available on the Canadian parliament portal, called upon the Government of Canada to order a fresh inquiry into the Air India episode to determine whether any foreign intelligence was involved in the crime.
It mentions that the Sikhs in Canada widely believe that the bombings was the “handiwork of a foreign intelligence to discredit their political activism and undermine their advocacy work for human rights in India”.
Khalistan
Severely criticising the petition, Arya, who is of Indian origin, made a statement in the Parliament early Friday (India time), calling it as an attempt by the Khalistani extremists to promote new conspiracy theories.
“39 years back Air India Flight 182 was blown-up mid-air from a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistan extremists. It killed 329 people and is the largest mass killing in Canadian history. Even today, the ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among few people in Canada,” Arya said in his statement.
“Two Canadian public inquiries found Khalistan extremists responsible for the bombing of Air India flight. Now there is a petition on parliament portal asking for a new enquiry promoting conspiracy theories promoted by Khalistan extremists,” he added.
The Canadian MP then quoted Bal Gupta, whose wife Rama was killed in the attack, telling the Globe and Mail: “It’s deeply frustrating. It opens up old wounds all over again. It’s all garbage. It’s an attempt to gain publicity and support for terrorist activities”.
In July, as another Hindu temple in Alberta’s capital Edmonton was vandalised with hateful graffiti, Arya had emphasised the urgent need to rein in radicals before it was too late.
“The Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton is vandalized again. During the last few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia and other places in Canada have been vandalized with hateful graffiti. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice last year publicly called for Hindus to go back to India,” the Indian-origin Canadian MP wrote on X.
Be it publicly celebrating in Brampton and Vancouver the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi or brandishing images of deadly weapons, Arya said that Khalistani extremists seem to “get away with ease” with their public rhetoric of hate and violence in Canada.
“Again, let me put it on record. Hindu-Canadians are legitimately concerned. Like a broken record, I again call on Canadian law enforcement agencies to take this issue seriously before these rhetorics get translated into physical action against Hindu-Canadians,” he said.
During his visit to India last month, Arya had held a meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and even called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the Canada-India relationship remains “very important” for both countries.
India has repeatedly asserted that further deterioration in bilateral ties would eventually result in a big loss for Canada.
“Freedom of speech cannot be freedom to advocate violence, freedom of speech cannot be freedom to support separatism and terrorism in a foreign country. It cannot be… A group of Khalistanis have been misusing Canada’s freedom laws for years. But when the Canadian government has any political compulsions, they accommodate these people who are also their vote bank,” said Jaishankar a few months ago while speaking at the ‘Vishwabandhu Bharat’ interaction in Maharashtra’s Nashik.
“Our relations have been spoiled today because of the activities of these people who are even threatening our Ambassador and various diplomats posted in the country. They threw smoke bombs inside the High Commission and, at one time, our diplomats were facing great difficulty to get out of the building. People who supported terror activities against India have been given refuge in Canada. The government there should have a relook at the entire situation,” the EAM had added.
According to the statement, the task force is expected to begin negotiations this autumn….reports Asian Lite News
Canada and the US announced that they would create a task force to negotiate a boundary dispute in the Arctic region.
In a joint statement, the two countries said that the task force would undertake negotiations on the maritime boundary in the Beaufort Sea, including resolving the overlap in the continental shelf in the Central Arctic Ocean, Xinhua news agency reported.
The area at issue is situated north of Alaska, Yukon and the Northwest Territories, the statement said.
“Canada and the United States will work collaboratively toward a final agreement that will provide clarity on our Arctic maritime boundaries, bearing in mind the responsible conservation and sustainable use of Arctic resources for the mutual benefit of Americans and Canadians, including Indigenous Peoples,” said the statement.
According to the statement, the task force is expected to begin negotiations this autumn.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow is prepared to defend its interests in the Arctic, even through military means, as NATO increases its military exercises in the region.
“We observe how NATO is escalating exercises related to potential crises in the Arctic. Our country is fully prepared to defend its interests on military, political, and military-technical fronts,” Lavrov told an interview for the documentary series ‘Soviet Breakthrough,’ Xinhua news agency reported.
Lavrov’s comments come amid heightened tensions in the Arctic, where NATO has been ramping up its presence.
In July, the US Department of Defence released an updated version of its Arctic Strategy, outlining plans for joint military exercises with its allies to demonstrate combat readiness and operational compatibility. The strategy also highlights intentions to work with partners, local industries, and Alaska’s native tribes to “strengthen integrated deterrence and increase shared security” in the region.
According to the Pentagon’s strategy, the US and its allies plan to introduce more than 250 modern multi-role combat aircraft that could be deployed for Arctic operations by the 2030s.
Earlier this month, Nikolai Patrushev, an aide to the Russian president and chair of the Maritime Collegium, said that the US and its allies are intensifying pressure around Russia’s borders, constantly testing its Defence capabilities. Patrushev accused the US side of pursuing militarisation in the Arctic, seeking to hinder Russian economic activities in the northern regions.
The methodologies, algorithms, capabilities and tools created will be exploited by developing new concepts of operations that focus on real-world challenges…reports Asian Lite News
he Ministry of Defence, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Canadian Department of National Defence will collaboratively pursue research, development, test and evaluation technologies for artificial intelligence (AI), cyber, resilient systems and information domain-related technologies.
The methodologies, algorithms, capabilities and tools created will be exploited by developing new concepts of operations that focus on real-world challenges.
Dr Nick Joad, Director Science and Technology at UK Ministry of Defence, said, “Our international research collaborations with both the US and Canada are some of our most vital and enduring partnerships. This agreement cements our collective commitments to advancing emerging cyber security technologies such as cyber security and artificial intelligence to enhance the defence and security of our nations.”
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will be the lead agency for the UK. Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) will be the lead organisation on behalf of Canada.
Dstl Chief Executive, Dr Paul Hollinshead, said, “This partnership with two of our closest allies will help keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad today and in the future. Together, we are driving value for money for our respective taxpayers while creating mission critical capabilities through science and technology, keeping our countries and our people safe.”
The collaboration has been driven by the rapid pace of technology development and the future challenges in an ever-changing geopolitical environment. This effort will further leverage relevant research programmes among all nations and reduce duplication of efforts.
DARPA Director, Stefanie Tompkins, added, “We know we’re stronger together than separately. The trilateral collaboration is a big step toward enhancing our understanding in the outlined research and development thrust areas. Working with our international partners on science and technology helps us all leverage each other’s individual strengths in order to develop much greater collective capability.”
In addition to strengthening international partnerships, the goal is to continue reducing technological risks so new capabilities can transition into operational use as quickly as possible.
DRDC Assistant Deputy Minister, Dr Jaspinder Komal, said, “Due to the pervasive nature and rapid evolution of artificial intelligence in dual-use technologies with civilian and military applications, we’ve identified this as a priority area for defence research. We’re pleased to be working with our allies in the UK and US through this trilateral agreement, which will potentially enable a multitude of cooperative research projects in the cyber and information domains.”
One research project already underway is the Cyber Agents for Security Testing and Learning Environments (CASTLE) programme, which trains AI to autonomously defend networks against advanced persistent cyber threats.
The government plans to reduce the number of study permits from 4,85,000 in 2024 to 4,37,000 in 2025, a 10 per cent decrease…reports Asian Lite News
In a significant move, Canada said that it is taking steps to manage its temporary resident population by reducing the number of study permits issued to international students and tightening eligibility for work permits.
Notably, the government plans to reduce the number of study permits from 4,85,000 in 2024 to 4,37,000 in 2025, a 10 per cent decrease.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the decision of reducing the number of study permits granted to foreign students and said that when “bad actors” abuse the immigration system, “we crack down.”
Sharing a post on X, Trudeau wrote, “We’re granting 35% fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number’s going down by another 10%.”
“Immigration is an advantage for our economy — but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down,” the post added.
Notably, on Wednesday, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced additional measures to manage the volume of temporary resident arrivals, uphold the integrity of our immigration system and protect vulnerable people.
In a news release, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Department of the Government of Canada said, “We are announcing a reduction in the intake cap on international student study permits for 2025 based on a 10 per cent reduction from the 2024 target of 4,85,000 new study permits issued, and then stabilising the intake cap for 2026 such that the number of study permits issued remains the same as 2025. For 2025, this means reducing study permits issued to 4,37,000.”
The 2025-2026 study permit intake cap will include master’s and doctoral students who will now have to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter. “We will be reserving approximately 12% of allocation spaces for these students in recognition of the benefits they bring to the Canadian labour market,” the news release said.
Meanwhile, Miller in a statement said that the action is being taken to strengthen temporary residence programmes and emphasised preserving the integrity of the Canadian immigration system.
“The reality is that not everyone who wants to come to Canada will be able to–just like not everyone who wants to stay in Canada will be able to. We are taking action to strengthen our temporary residence programs and roll out a more comprehensive immigration plan to meet the demands of today’s changing landscape. Our immigration system must preserve its integrity, and be well managed and sustainable. And as we look forward, we will do everything it takes to achieve that goal and set newcomers up for success,” Miller said. (ANI)
Canada's immigration backlog shrinks to 2.2 mn: IRCC.
Ottawa stopped approving new arms permits for Israel in January though permits approved in the prior months were still active…reports Asian lite News
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has said that Ottawa has suspended about 30 existing permits for arms sales to Israel, local media reported.
According to the reports, Joly said on Tuesday that Ottawa’s policy is that Canadian-made arms and components cannot be used in the Gaza Strip, regardless of how they are sent to Israel.
Ottawa stopped approving new arms permits for Israel in January though permits approved in the prior months were still active, Xinhua news agency reported, citing local media.
“We will not have any form of arms, or parts of arms, be sent to Gaza. Period. How they’re being sent and where they’re being sent is irrelevant,” Joly was quoted as saying.
According to the reports, Canada is also blocking a contract with the US government to send Quebec-made ammunition to the Israeli Defense Forces, which was announced by Washington weeks ago.
Singh accused Trudeau of not being able to take on the opposition Conservatives, who polls indicate are set to easily win an election that must be held by end-October 2025….reports Asian Lite News
Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh has announced that he is withdrawing support to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.
The NDP leader on Wednesday in a video posted on social media stated that he “ripped up” the supply-and-confidence agreement his party made with Trudeau’s Liberal government, the Canadian news outlet CBC news reported.
The deal struck between the two leaders in 2022 and scheduled to run until June 2025 ensured the survival of the minority Liberal government and was the “first such formal agreement between two parties at the federal level.” Trudeau first took office in November 2015.
Singh accused Trudeau of not being able to take on the opposition Conservatives, who polls indicate are set to easily win an election that must be held by end-October 2025.
“Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don’t deserve another chance from Canadians,” Singh said in the video as cited by CBC.
The NDP leader spoke of an “even bigger battle ahead” “The threat of Pierre Poilievre and Conservative cuts. From workers, from retirees, from young people, from patients, from families — he will cut in order to give more to big corporations and wealthy CEOs,” said Singh.
Speaking after Singh’s announcement, Trudeau said his government is more focused on tackling the affordability crisis and climate change. The Canadian PM said he hopes the next election will not happen “until next fall” so that his government has time to move forward on pharmacare, dental care and school food programs.
In a media statement accompanying his announcement, Singh said “the NDP is ready for an election, and voting non-confidence will be on the table with each and every confidence measure.”
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called Singh’s announcement a “stunt” and criticized him for not saying whether he would vote non-confidence in the government.
Through the deal with Trudeau’s party, the NDP according to CBS news kept the minority Liberal government in power in exchange for movement on key priorities such as dental care benefits, one-time rental supplements for low-income tenants and a temporary doubling of the GST rebate. (ANI)
Trudeau stated that the decision was taken to spur electric vehicle manufacturing in Canada…reports Asian Lite News
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canada will introduce higher tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EV) and Chinese steel. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Halifax on Monday. Speaking at the Liberal cabinet retreat, Justin Trudeau stated, “Shortly, we will be introducing a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles and a 25 per cent tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum.”
Trudeau stated that the decision was taken to spur electric vehicle manufacturing in Canada. The decision brings Canada in line with the recent US trade policy changes.
Earlier in May, US President Joe Biden announced that he was increasing tariffs on Chinese EVs from 25 per cent to 100 per cent this year. However, there is only one Chinese EV currently available in the US.
In June, Canada’s Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said that the federal government was concerned by “unfair” Chinese trade practices in the electric vehicle manufacturing sector. She announced the beginning of a consultation process into potential response measures.
Freeland had hinted at what the restrictions being considered by the government might look like. Currently, the only Chinese-made EVs imported into Canada are Teslas manufactured in Shanghai.
At the time, Freeland stated, “The potential policy actions we are consulting on include a surtax on imports of Chinese EVs under Section 53 of the Customs Tariff Act, changes to which cars are eligible for the existing federal incentives for Zero Emissions Vehicle Program, and potentially broader investment restrictions in Canada.”
Earlier in May, Biden announced an increase in tariffs on Chinese imports across a handful of sectors deemed strategic to national security.
The increase in tariffs was announced on imported steel and aluminium, legacy semiconductors, electric vehicles, battery components, critical minerals, solar cells, cranes and medical products. The new tariff rates – 100% on electric vehicles, 50 per cent on solar components and 25 per cent for all other sectors – will take place over the next two years.
Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Economic Council, said, “China’s using the same playbook it has before to power its own growth at the expense of others.” Brainard said, “China’s simply too big to play by its own rules.”
While announcing the new tariffs in the Rose Garden, Biden said he seeks “fair competition with China, not conflict.”
He stated, “The fact is, American workers can out-work and out-compete anyone, as long as the competition is fair.” He said, “For too long, it hasn’t been fair.” (ANI)
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected the allegation made by the Canadian Prime Minister…reports Asian Lite News
Sri Lanka has once again rejected allegations of the Tamil minority ‘genocide’ charge by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and claimed the accusation was ‘arising from local domestic vote bank politics.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected the allegation made by the Canadian Prime Minister in a statement issued on July 23 to mark the 1983 alleged “anti-Tamil violence” day in Sri Lanka.
“Sri Lanka vehemently reiterates its rejection of the allegation of genocide in their country in the statement issued on July 23, 2024, by the Canadian Prime Minister. Sri Lanka’s position on this matter has been previously reiterated to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,” Foreign Minister Ali Sabry stressed.
“This allegation arising from local domestic vote bank politics in Canada is not conducive to unity and communal harmony in both Sri Lanka and Canada,” the Sri Lanka government complained.
Marking 41 years on the violence against Tamils on July 23, 1983, which is known as ‘Black July’, PM Trudeau said, “Forty-one years ago today, violent attacks targeting Tamil civilians and businesses started in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Thousands of innocent lives were lost, and many more Tamils were injured, subjected to sexual violence, and forced to flee the country.”
“The anti-Tamil pogrom, known as ‘Black July’, escalated tensions in what became a decade-long armed conflict. It remains one of the darkest chapters in Sri Lanka’s history,” the Canadian PM has said.
Referring to May 18, 2009, the day Sri Lanka’s security forces militarily defeated Tamil Tiger rebels, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after killing its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, Canadian PM last May said that in 2022, the Parliament of Canada unanimously adopted a Motion to mark May 18 as the Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day — a recognition of Canada’s commitment to stand in solidarity with Tamil-Canadians and Tamil communities around the world in remembering and honouring the victims and survivors of these senseless acts of violence.
“As a steadfast defender of human rights, the Government of Canada will continue to demand accountability for human rights violations and abuses against vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka,” PM Trudeau reiterated.
In May, the Sri Lankan government immediately rejected PM Trudeau’s allegation and hit out at him claiming that the Prime Minister was engaging in electoral votebank politics.
Last year in September India strongly criticised PM Trudeau for claiming the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the murder of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. India immediately rejected the allegation, saying it was “absurd” and “motivated”.
In May, Sri Lanka joined India, which had already confronted Canada referring to Khalistani separatist elements, and said that the Canadian government was sending a message that its vote bank was more powerful than its rule of law.
Last year in September India strongly criticised PM Trudeau for claiming the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the murder of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. India immediately rejected the allegation, saying it was “absurd” and “motivated”.
India has said that the main issue was Canada giving space to pro-Khalistani elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.
With another Hindu temple in Alberta’s capital Edmonton vandalised with hateful graffiti on Tuesday, New Delhi has slammed Ottawa for its inability to rein in the extremists…reports Asian Lite News
India on Thursday reiterated that it expects Canada to take action against anti-India elements otherwise “the rule of law and respect for pluralism” in the country will continue to be “severely undermined”.
“When a democracy adopts different yardsticks to measure or implement the rule of law and freedom of expression, it only exposes its double standards. We expect Canada to take action against anti-India elements who have repeatedly threatened Indian leaders, institutions, airlines, and diplomats with violence,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during the weekly media briefing on Thursday.
“We would like to see stronger action at the same level of seriousness on the threats posed to us as well,” he added.
With another Hindu temple in Alberta’s capital Edmonton vandalised with hateful graffiti on Tuesday, New Delhi has slammed Ottawa for its inability to rein in the extremists.
The MEA stated that it has “strongly” taken up the matter with the Canadian authorities, both in New Delhi and in the Canadian capital.
“We condemn the vandalisation. We expect the local authorities to take swift and strong action against those responsible. These attacks against temples have become a recurring occurrence and are done with a purpose, which is not very difficult to fathom,” said Jaiswal.
“We have seen a number of such incidents in recent times in Canada. Lack of action against the perpetrators has further emboldened such criminal elements. Those advocating and responsible for extremism and violence need to be brought to justice, or else the rule of law and respect for pluralism in Canada will continue to be severely undermined,” he added.
Tuesday’s incident added to the series of attacks targeting Hindu establishments in Canada.
“During the last few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia, and other places in Canada have been vandalised with hateful graffiti. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of ‘Sikhs for Justice’ last year publicly called for Hindus to go back to India,” Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya wrote on X on July 23.
“Khalistan supporters publicly celebrated in Brampton and Vancouver the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and brandished images of deadly weapons. As I have always been saying, Khalistani extremists seem to get away with ease with their public rhetoric of hate and violence.
“Again, let me put on record. Hindu-Canadians are legitimately concerned. Like a broken record, I again call on Canadian law enforcement agencies to take this issue seriously before these rhetorics get translated into physical action against Hindu-Canadians,” Arya detailed.
The Indian government has repeatedly expressed its deep concern and strong protest at the disturbing actions being allowed to continue unchecked in Canada, saying it illustrates the political space that has been given in the country to separatism, extremism, and violence.
In May, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar targeted the Justin Trudeau government for giving refuge to pro-Khalistani elements, asserting that further deterioration in bilateral ties would eventually result in a big loss for Canada.
“Freedom of speech cannot be freedom to advocate violence, freedom of speech cannot be freedom to support separatism and terrorism in a foreign country. It cannot be… A group of Khalistanis have been misusing Canada’s freedom laws for years.
“But when the Canadian government has any political compulsions, they accommodate these people who are also their vote bank,” Jaishankar said while speaking at the ‘Vishwabandhu Bharat’ interaction in Nashik.
