LIVE | Canadian MP calls for Trudeau’s resignation as Liberal leader amid row with India
Senior journalist and author John Ivison in an article published in the Canadian newspaper The Nationalist Post criticised the RCMP for making serious statements against India without providing any evidence
Amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada, a Liberal Canadian MP has called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation as party leader ahead of the next elections, asserting that the country's 'people have had enough'.
"The message that I've been getting loud and clear – and more and more strongly as time goes by – is that it is time for [Trudeau] to go. And I agree," Member of Parliament Sean Casey was quoted as saying by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday.
"People have had enough. They've tuned him out, and they want him to go," he said, underlining a "high level of anxiety" in the Liberal caucus over Trudeau's leadership.
"But those who have come to the same conclusion as me seem to be becoming more emboldened with the passage of time," the report quoted him as saying.
Casey's comments come a week after Liberal MPs held a series of meetings to discuss a path forward for the party following the byelection loss at Liberal stronghold Toronto-St. Paul's in June, according to the report.
Journalists slam Trudeau
The demand for Trudeau’s resignation also comes following massive backlash against him from the Canadian media and various think tanks in the country for making allegations against India without providing credible evidence.
Earlier, senior journalist and author John Ivison in an article published in the Canadian newspaper The Nationalist Post criticised the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for making serious statements against India without providing any evidence. He also said that Canada has allowed Sikh extremism to flourish within its borders, and that PM Trudeau has allowed “diaspora politics to unduly influence foreign policy”.
“It is very much to be hoped that the RCMP has not allowed itself to be used for such blatantly partisan purposes,” wrote Ivison.
Ivison accused Trudeau of failing to crack down on suspected Khalistani extremists living in Canada.
Daniel Bordman, a senior correspondent for the National Telegraph, tweeted on X, “Justin Trudeau again fails to provide compelling evidence to the public after escalating the tensions with India. Diplomats have been expelled, and we are still in the ‘trust me, bro’ phase. This could end up costing Canada billions in trade. All to appease Jagmeet and the gang of Khalistani ministers.”
Wanted to see India cooperate with Canada: US
India is not cooperating with Canada on the latter’s investigation into the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year, the United States has alleged.
Regarding the foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York, the US said India has stated it is taking the allegations seriously, as a team of visiting Indian officials had a meeting with officials of the State Department and Department of Justice in Washington.
“When it comes to the Canadian matter, we have made clear that the allegations are extremely serious and they need to be taken seriously. We wanted to see the government of India cooperate with Canada in its investigation. Obviously, they have not chosen that path,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a day earlier alleged that officials of the Indian government were involved in the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last June in Surrey.
Also read: Amit Shah authorised attacks on Sikh separatists in Canada: Report
Trudeau’s claim
“The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has clear and compelling evidence that agents of the Government of India have engaged in, and continue to engage in, activities that pose a significant threat to public safety. This includes clandestine information gathering techniques, coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians, and involvement in over a dozen threatening and violent acts, including murder. This is unacceptable,” Trudeau alleged.
Rejecting the allegations, India not only called back its High Commissioner from Canada but also expelled six Canadian diplomats from New Delhi.
No shred of evidence: India
“Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side. This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts. This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
“That his government was dependent on a political party, whose leader openly espouses a separatist ideology vis-à-vis India, only aggravated matters. Under criticism for turning a blind eye to foreign interference in Canadian politics, his government has deliberately brought in India in an attempt to mitigate the damage,” the Minister of External Affairs said.
Also read: Indian govt agents linked with Lawrence Bishnoi gang: Canadian police
India’s counter-attack
India said the Trudeau government has consciously provided space to violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten and intimidate the Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada.
“This has included death threats to them and to Indian leaders. All these activities have been justified in the name of freedom of speech. Some individuals who have entered Canada illegally have been fast-tracked for citizenship. Multiple extradition requests from the Government of India in respect of terrorists and organized crime leaders living in Canada have been disregarded,” it said.
US position
The United States refrained from commenting on the India-Canada diplomatic row.
“I don't have any comment on that. But as we’ve said before, they’re serious allegations. And we have wanted to see India take them seriously and cooperate with Canada’s investigation. They have chosen an alternate path,” Miller said.
Discussion on Pannun case
Regarding the Pannun case, Miler said he did not have a readout on the meeting yet. “The meeting was here as a follow-up on conversations we have been having with the Government of India at the senior-most levels over the past several months,” he told reporters.
“They have told us that they are taking the allegations seriously, that the activities contained in the DOJ indictment do not represent government policy,” Miller said in response to a question.
“So, the meeting that happened this week or that is happening today by India’s inquiry was to discuss their active investigation into the matter, for us to update them on our active investigation into the matter, and to continue to share sides about steps that could happen in the days and weeks to come,” he said in response to a question.
Also read: Canada expels 6 Indian diplomats, claims they were collecting info for agents
Visit by Indian inquiry committee
The remarks came after an Indian inquiry committee established to investigate the American allegations of the involvement of an Indian government official in a foiled plot to assassinate a US national visited Washington on Tuesday.
In November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York. Gupta, arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the US on June 14.
India has denied the allegations but has constituted an internal investigations team to look into it.
Partnership going strong
Responding to another question, Miller said India continues to be an incredibly strong partner of the United States.
“We work with them on a number of matters, including our shared vision for a free, open, prosperous Indo-Pacific. And when we have concerns, we have the kind of relationship where we can take those concerns to them and have very frank, candid conversations about those concerns. And that’s what we’ve been doing,” Miller said.
(With agency inputs)
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Amid the India-Canada diplomatic row, an Ontario-based organisation has said that it is "crucial" that both nations engage in open dialogue and work toward peaceful resolutions, stressing that maintaining strong bilateral ties is essential for Canada’s security, prosperity, and global standing.
The Canada-India Foundation, in a statement to PTI, said that as a Canadian organisation deeply committed to advancing Canada's national interests, it remains dedicated to fostering strong and mutually beneficial relationships between Canada and India.
"In these times of diplomatic tension, it is crucial that both nations engage in open dialogue and work toward peaceful resolutions. We firmly believe that maintaining strong bilateral ties is essential for Canada’s security, prosperity, and global standing,” it said.
The organisation said it also recognises the growing threat posed by extremist ideologies that “disrupt the fabric of Canadian society and threaten the well-being of our diverse communities, including Indo-Canadians.
"It is vital that we remain vigilant against these divisive forces, which not only strain international relations but also jeopardize the peace, security, and inclusivity that are core to Canada's identity," it said.
Established in 2007, the Canada-India Foundation (CIF) is a national, not-for-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organisation established with a focus on strengthening bilateral relations between Canada and India, helping Indo-Canadians in all spheres of their entrepreneurial, and professional journeys and building brand India in Canada and Brand Canada in India for better understanding of both the countries to augment the all-round relationship.
The government of India’s cooperation with Canada’s legal process is the right next step over the “serious developments”, the UK has said with reference to the ongoing India-Canada diplomatic row.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), in a statement, said it remains in contact with Canadian partners over the “ongoing Canadian investigation linked to the government of India” and expressed confidence in Ottawa’s judicial system.
The UK and Canada are part of an intelligence alliance named Five Eyes, also comprising Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
“We are in contact with our Canadian partners about the serious developments outlined in the independent investigations in Canada,” said an FCDO spokesperson.
“The UK has full confidence in Canada’s judicial system. Respect for sovereignty and the rule of law is essential. The government of India’s cooperation with Canada’s legal process is the right next step,” the spokesperson said.
The Foreign Office statement follows a more innocuous one from 10 Downing Street after Prime Minister Keir Starmer received a call from his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, on Monday evening.
“They discussed recent developments regarding allegations under investigation in Canada. Both agreed on the importance of the rule of law. They agreed to remain in close contact pending the conclusions of the investigation,” reads the Downing Street statement, which did not mention India or its government by name.
Top aides to Canadian PM Justin Trudeau responding to a question at a public inquiry in Ottawa instituted by his government said that meddling by foreign powers into internal Canadian affairs was an “evolving landscape” and rejected suggestions that the government had been slow to respond.
“There has been step after step after step that has been taken, and there are more steps that need to be taken,” said Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of staff.
The inquiry was set up a year ago and is expected to end in December. The inquiry has revealed that the prime minister and other top government officials tended to minimise reports from Canadian intelligence and members of diasporas about foreign attempts to meddle in Canada’s internal affairs.
The inquiry has focused attention on the opaque internal operations of political parties in Canada, especially in the selection of candidates for general elections. The inquiry’s preliminary report described the party votes as “gateways for foreign states who wish to interfere in our democratic processes”.
Trudeau is scheduled to testify on Wednesday (October 16) before the inquiry.
The Canadian media and various think tanks in the country have criticised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for making allegations against India without providing credible evidence.
Senior journalist and author John Ivison in an article published in the Canadian newspaper The Nationalist Post criticised the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for making serious statements against India without providing any evidence. He also said that Canada has allowed Sikh extremism to flourish within its borders, and that PM Trudeau has allowed “diaspora politics to unduly influence foreign policy”.
“It is very much to be hoped that the RCMP has not allowed itself to be used for such blatantly partisan purposes,” wrote Ivison.
Ivison accused Trudeau of failing to crack down on suspected Khalistani extremists living in Canada.
Daniel Bordman, a senior correspondent for the National Telegraph, tweeted on X, “Justin Trudeau again fails to provide compelling evidence to the public after escalating the tensions with India. Diplomats have been expelled, and we are still in the ‘trust me, bro’ phase. This could end up costing Canada billions in trade. All to appease Jagmeet and the gang of Khalistani ministers.”
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that freedom of expression can’t justify threats to Indian representatives in Canada. A Statesman video showed him saying nothing justifies physical threats to any officer.
A Canadian Air Force aircraft is ferrying 191 stranded passengers of an Air India flight from Iqaluit airport to Chicago, more than 18 hours after the flight was diverted to the airport due to a bomb threat. The flight had 211 people, including 20 crew members.
In a statement on Wednesday, Air India said passengers of flight AI127, which was diverted to Iqaluit in Canada on October 15, are on their way to their destination — Chicago.
"Passengers are being ferried on a Canadian Air Force aircraft that has taken off from Iqaluit at 03:54 hrs UTC and is expected to land in Chicago at around 07:48 hrs UTC," the airline said.
The UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) of 03:54 hours was around 11.54 pm local time in Iqaluit on Tuesday.
The flight had landed at Iqaluit airport at around 05:21 am local time.
Air India also thanked the Canadian authorities and authorities at Iqaluit airport for their support and assistance extended to the passengers and the airline during this unexpected disruption.
On Tuesday, Air India's Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft enroute to Chicago from Delhi was diverted to the Canadian airport following a bomb threat.
Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng on Tuesday sought to assure the country’s business community that she is committed to supporting the well-established commercial ties between the two countries.
“I want to reassure our business community that our government remains fully committed to supporting the well-established commercial ties between Canada and India,” Ng, the minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development, said in a statement.
“Our Trade Commissioner Service will continue to assist and provide resources to Canadian companies operating in India,” she said. “Let me be clear: Canada stands firmly by its businesses. We will work closely with all Canadian enterprises engaged with India to ensure these important economic connections remain strong,” she said.
According to India Brand Equity Foundation, Canada and India achieved a bilateral trade relationship that reached USD 8.27 billion in fiscal year 2023 and USD 5.3 billion during April-November 2023.
Major exported items from India to Canada include pharmaceutical products (US$ 274.05 million); followed by nuclear reactors, boilers, and parts (US$ 195.46 million), electrical machinery (US$ 160.68 million), and articles of iron and steel (US$ 156.03 million), during April-November 2023.
Major imports from Canada during April-November 2023 include petroleum products (US$ 608.17 million); followed by edible vegetables (US$ 420.60 million) fertilizers (US$ 337.63 million), pearls, precious metals, and stones (US$ 200.80 million), pulp and wastepaper (US$ 192.79 million), and electrical machinery and equipment (US$ 114.84 million).
More than 600 Canadian companies and organizations have established a presence in India. The bilateral commercial relationships between the two countries stand at USD 100 billion, which includes USD 70 billion of Canadian portfolio investment into India.
The head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has urged the Sikh community in Ottawa to speak out as they continue to investigate allegations linking the Indian government to a campaign of violence on Canadian soil.
In an interview with Radio-Canada on Tuesday, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme urged people with knowledge relevant to the investigation they are doing to come forward, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
On Monday, Duheme publicly alleged that “agents” of the government of India had played a role in “widespread” acts of violence in Canada, including homicides.
Duheme alleged that Indian diplomats and consular officials in Canada have been linked to murders and acts of “extortion, intimidation and coercion” against Canadians and people living in Canada.
He told reporters that the national force felt it had to come forward to disrupt the networks working in Canada, which he said pose a “significant threat to public safety in our country”.
“If people come forward, we can help them and I ask them to come forward if they can,” he said in the interview with the Radio-Canada.
Canadian Sikh leader Jagmeet Singh has demanded a ban on the RSS and sanctions against the Indian diplomats.
Singh is the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) that had in past supported the ruling government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The NDP leader, who is known for his pro-Khalistan stance, at a news conference in Ottawa requested an emergency meeting with the Public Security Committee to better understand if there are other steps they can take to protect the Canadians.
“We demand that the Liberal government implement severe sanctions on Indian diplomats and banish the RSS, a violent, militant, terrorist organization from India, which is a group that operates here in Canada and in other countries as well,” Singh said, a day after he was briefed by the Canadian government on its side of the allegations against India.
“Are you being targeted?” he was asked. “It’s not about me. This is about the fact that Canadians are at serious threat and serious risk,” he said. Singh said “we need to work with our allies to put pressure on India”.
“We need to work with the United States… similar scenarios…have played out in the United Kingdom. So, it’s clear that we need to work with our allies to put pressure on India. But there’s got to be accountability. The Indian government has to be held to account. The Modi government has to be held to account. We all need to be unified as Canadian leaders. All of us have to be united in denouncing Modi and making sure we protect Canadians and put their safety first and foremost,” he said.