Canada and India have had bilateral relations since the 19th century. Both are member nations of the Commonwealth of Nations and are part of G20, a group of world's largest economies. In 2023, bilateral trade between the countries was valued at $9.36 billion with the Indian exports to Canada worth $5.56 billion and Canadian exports to India valued at $3.80 billion.
Indian emigration to Canada started in the late 19th century. The Canadian Government established quotas initially but the immigration to Canada increased multi-fold in the 1970s and 1980s. Indian have become one of the largest immigrant populations in Canada. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, of the more than 800,000 international students in Canada in 2022, 40 percent were from India, constituting the largest international student group in Canada.
After the Indian Independence in 1947, the relation between the countries were furthered with Canada keen to act as a bridge between India and the Western World. The Canadian foreign aid to India started in 1951 and grew substantially under the Colombo Plan. Though there was a convergence of interest of both the countries in the 1950s, the views of the countries began to deviate in the 1960s. Canada reacted negatively after the Canadian-supplied nuclear reactor was used for India's first nuclear test in May 1974. The bombing of Air India Flight 182 in June 1985 and the events surrounding it, further led to misunderstandings between the two countries.
After the economic liberalisation policies of India in the 1990s, it attracted the Canadian government and the business community back to India. Bilateral visits by leaders of both countries furthered business deals and interests in other areas. However, the relationship was short lived, with Canada imposing further sanctions on India following India's second nuclear test in May 1998. The relations briefly recovered after the sanctions were lifted in 2001. The late 2000s and early 2010s saw a leap in the relationship between the countries, with the signing of Nuclear Cooperation Agreement in 2010 and other agreements.
While Canada and India have a broad-based relationship, their ties have often been strained by Sikh separatists that are affiliated with the Khalistan movement, calling for an independent PunjabiSikh nation-state in India. Diplomatic tensions were triggered after 2023 Sikh protests and Canadian allegations that Indian agents were involved in the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in September 2023. Both the sides expelled diplomats and warned against traveling to the other country. The Indian government claimed that Canada has not provided any evidence while Canada has contended that it was provided intelligence on the same by US intelligence agencies. After a brief thaw in the relationship, both the countries expelled six diplomats each in another stand-off in October 2024.
In the early 19th century, Canada and India were part of the British Empire.[3][4] The Indo-Canadian community was formed in the late 19th century due to the Indian emigration to Canada, majority of whom were Punjabis, which included veterans of the British Indian Army.[5] When the British Crowntook over India, Queen Victoria proclaimed that Indians would enjoy equal privileges across the British Empire without discrimination.[6] The Indian emigrants settled mostly in the sparsely populated Western Canada and took up jobs such as law enforcement officers and lumberjacks. However, the race relations with white Canadians were strained as the legal and socioeconomic systems ensured racial discrimination and minimal direct contact by setting up various barriers.[7][8] Though initially reluctant to go to these countries due to the racial discrimination, many young men chose to go upon the assurance that they would not meet the same fate in the early 20th century.[6]Canadian Government quotas were established to cap the number of Indians allowed to immigrate to Canada in the early 20th century and only allowed fewer than 100 people from India a year until 1957, when it was marginally increased to 300 people a year.[9]
Though there was a convergence of interest of both the countries, the views of the countries on major events such as the Korean War, Suez Crisis and Soviet intervention in Hungary and Canada's position on the Kashmir conflict.[10][11] Though both the countries pursued increased cooperation with the establishment of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute to promote academic relations in 1968 and the Canadian visit of Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi in June 1973, the relations soured further in the late 1970s.[13][12] For India's first nuclear test in May 1974, the fissionable material for the nuclear device was synthesized with the Canadian-supplied CIRUS nuclear research reactor.[15] Canada reacted negatively towards the same, especially in light of then ongoing negotiations on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the economic aid it had provided to India. Canada concluded that the test violated a 1971 understanding between the two states, and froze nuclear energy assistance for the two heavy water reactors then under construction. It resolved to engage in nuclear cooperation only with countries which signed the Treaty on the NPT and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and which instituted full-scope safeguards on their nuclear energy programmes under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).[16] India had refused to sign the NPT, and voted against the UN General Assembly Resolutions which they assert violates its sovereign right to choose whether or not to sign such treaties.[17][18] In the late 1970s, Canada focused on improving relations within the Western World while India pursued its own regional alliances.[10]
On 23 June 1985, Air India Flight 182 from Montreal to Mumbai, disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean as a result of an explosion from a bomb planted by Canada based Sikh terrorists and resulted in the deaths of 329 people.[19][20][21] The Canadian government had been warned by the Indian R&AW about the possibility of terrorist attacks, and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service(CSIS) was accused of not acting on it. In his verdict, Justice Ian Josephson cited "unacceptable negligence" by CSIS when evidence on the suspects and other informants were destroyed.[22][23][24] The Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau turned down Indian requests for extradition of the Canadian nationals suspected to be involved in the bombing.[13]
Despite the differences between the countries, the Indian immigration continued in the 1970s and 1980s. South Asian population in Canada grew from 7,000 in 1961 to 67,900 in 1971 and more than 200,000 South Asians came to Canada between 1971 and 1982, majority of them being of Indian origin.[10]
Brief recovery and further disagreements (1990s)
After the economic liberalisation policies of India in the 1990s, it attracted the Canadian government and the business community.[13] After Jean Chrétien became the Prime Minister of Canada in 1993, it pursued renewed relations with India. In October 1994, Canadian minister Roy MacLaren visited India with a large trade delegation and proclaimed India to be "one of the most promising markets in the Asia-Pacific region for Canadian business."[10] Bilateral visits by Chrétien along with a trade delegation in January 1996, a first by a Canadian Prime Minister in more than 25 years, and further visits by ministers of both the countries led to signing of business deals more than $3.4 billion and furthered the business interests.[25] The two countries signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in 1994, which was operationalised in 1998 and the Indian Space Research Organisation and Canadian Space Agency signed two agreements in the field of exploration of outer space in October 1996.[26] Canada and India agreed to a bilateral dialogue on combating terrorism, including the annual Canada-India Strategic Dialogue and the Canada-India working group on counter terrorism was established subsequently in 1997.[26][27][28]
After India's second nuclear test in May 1998, Canada reacted negatively similar to its reaction to the earlier nuclear test. Canada suspended trade talks, recalled its envoy to India, paused weapon exports to India and opposed any non-humanitarian aid by the World Bank. Canadian foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy sought further sanctions on India and termed it as the "use the tools of soft power to demonstrate that security is better achieved through multilateral ventures than the attainment of nuclear capabilities". Canada refused to engage with India and discuss on the nuclear policies, while India remained committed to its nuclear policy. In 1998, India contributed to just 0.1% of Canada’s exports and 0.3% of its imports. India’s exports to Canada were only 1.6% of its total exports, and its imports from Canada were only 0.8% of its total imports. More than $3 billion worth of economic projects stagnated, and Canada ranked low amongst the foreign investors in India, with only a 1.4% share.[10]
New beginning (early 21st century)
Axworthy's successor John Manley, who had personal connections with India, viewed India as a major partner and removed most of the Canadian sanctions in 2001. With further visits by ministers of both countries, it was agreed between the leaders of both the countries to triple the existing trade. But the rise of terrorist attacks which occupied Canada's attention, the view of Manley's successor Bill Graham, who viewed trade with Africa and Latin America as priority, meant that the relationship did not progress much further.[10]
After Stephen Harper became the Prime Minister of Canada, Canada sought to increase its ties with India. Twenty Canadian ministers visited India in the late 2000s including an official visit by Prime Minister Harper in November 2009. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Canada in June 2010, the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Canada since 1973. Both the countries sought to expand the bilateral relations across various sectors including education, energy, science and technology, culture, agriculture and the environment and multiple agreement on social security, foreign investment and economic partnership were agreed. The year 2011 was designated as the "Year of India in Canada" by both the governments.[13][27][29]
Signing of the India-Canada nuclear agreement in 2010.
In 2010, the Nuclear Cooperation Agreement was signed between the two countries, which was followed by a renewed agreement in 2015 to supply 3000 metric tons of Uranium concentrate to India under a five-year contract.[30] The bilateral trade increased to $4.2 billion in 2010, a 46% increase from 2005. The foreign direct investment between Canada and India reached $3.6 billion of which nearly $3.0 billion were Canadian investments in India. More than 100 bilateral agreements were signed between Canadian and Indian institutes and nearly 12,000 students traveled to Canada for higher education in 2011.[27][29]
Justin Trudeau became the Canadian Prime Minister in 2015.[31] He spent a week in India on a state visit in February 2018. A new agreement on education was signed and the India-Canada Consular Dialogue was established to sort diplomatic issues between the nations. Further agreements were signed in areas such as sport, information and communication technology, science and innovation and civil nuclear cooperation.[26] During Trudeau's visit, he participated in a function in which Jaspal Atwal, a convict in the attempted murder of then Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in 1986, also took part and drew criticism in India.[32]
In 2019, Canada's Public Safety Department identified Sikh extremism as one the country's top terror threats, which was however omitted from further reports following protests from some of the Sikh community. Canada has the largest Sikh population outside India and Sikhs account for nearly 2 percent of Canada’s population.[33][34] Omer Aziz, a former foreign policy advisor in the Trudeau government, claimed that the Sikh voting bloc influenced the government's policy making decisions and cited it as a reason why Canada ignored India's demands to crack down on financing from Khalistan supporters. The Indian government criticized the move and Chief Minister of PunjabAmarinder Singh claimed that Trudeau "succumbed to domestic political pressure" and that the move was a threat to global security.[35][36]
In December 2020, Trudeau expressed concerns about the handling of farmer protests by the Indian government.[37] He stated that "Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protestors" and expressed support for "the process of dialogue."[38] India protested against the remarks and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that Trudeau's comments were "an unacceptable interference in our internal affairs".[39]
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data, of the more than 800,000 international students in Canada in 2022, 40 percent were from India, constituting the largest international student group in Canada.[40][41]
India has, in recent times, accused Canada of sponsoring gang warfare, drugs trafficking, and extortion in India, which they believe sustains the Khalistan militant movement.[42] Ex Canadian PM Stephen Harper said that Canada should stop cultivating divisive groups like pro Khalistani elements.[43]
The Canada–India diplomatic row[44][45][46] is a diplomatic dispute between Canada and India that started in September 2023, with periodic escalation throughout the following year. While the diplomatic row was initially triggered due to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the ongoing tensions between India and Canada have been largely fuelled by disagreements over the Sikh separatist Khalistan movement and its active supporters.[47][48]
This led to a prolonged diplomatic stand-off between the countries.[49][50][44] Both the countries expelled diplomatic staff, claiming interference in the other's internal affairs.[51][52][53]
In 2023, both countries expelled members of each other's diplomatic staff and advised their citizens against traveling to the other; Canada closed three consulates in India. In October 2024, Canada expelled Sanjay Kumar Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, along with five other diplomats. India retaliated with six expulsions of its own.
Leaders of various nations released statements expressing concern on the stand-off.[54][55][56][57]
Cricket and kabaddi, which are popular in India, have grown in Canada partially due to migration,[58] with the Canadian Minister of State for Sport, Bal Gosal, saying in 2012 that the two countries would collaborate on further growing ties in sports.[59]
Diplomatic missions
Canadian High Commission in New Delhi (left) and Indian High Commission in Ottawa
Preneet Kaur (right), the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs signs a MoU with Ed Fast (left), the Canadian Minister of International Trade in the presence of the Prime Ministers of both the countries in 2012.
In 2023, bilateral trade between India and Canada was valued at $9.36 billion with the Indian exports to Canada worth $5.56 billion and Canadian exports to India valued at $3.80 billion.[26] In July 2024, India accounted for 0.74% ($0.74 billion) of Canada's total trade of $99.04 billion and Canada accounted for 0.82% of India's total trade of $90.14 billion.[63][64][65] The major Indian exports included pharmaceuticals, telephones, automobile parts, sea food, electrical components, and jewelry, while Canada's main exports included coal briquettes, wood pulp, iron ore, legumes, and paper.[63][66] The countries held discussions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in the 2010s and the volume of trade between the two countries has grew steadily over the last decade.[67][68]
Merchandise trade between India and Canada (2022)[63]
^Buchignani, Norman (12 May 2010). "South Asian Canadians". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
^ abSingh, Khushwant (26 February – 12 March 1961). "The Ghadr Rebellion". Illustrated Weekly of India: Feb 26 – Mar 12. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
^Bell, Stewart (2014). "Leadership and the Toronto 18". In Bruce Hoffman; Fernando Reinares (eds.). The Evolution of the Global Terrorist Threat: From 9/11 to Osama bin Laden's Death. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 144. ISBN978-0-231-16898-4.
^ Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182 (Canada) ; Major, John Charles (2010). Air India Flight 182: A Canadian Tragedy. Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182. p. 21. ISBN978-0-660-19926-9.
^"Tensions are high between Canada and India. Here's why". CBC. 23 October 2023. Trudeau accused India's government of potentially being involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar..The tensions are also fuelled by a larger disagreement over how Canada deals with supporters of the Khalistan movement. Indian officials have been concerned for a very long time that there are active advocates of an independent Khalistan homeland who reside in Canada
^Duggal, Hanna; Chughtai, Alia (27 September 2023). "What is the Khalistan movement? How is it linked to India-Canada tensions?". Al Jazeera. A row between India and Canada surrounding Sikh independence, commonly referred to as the Khalistan movement, continues to cause tensions.. Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of playing a role in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead in June in British Columbia state.
^Webster, C. (2001). "Commonwealth Diplomatic Missions a Comparative Empirical Investigation of the Foreign Policy of Five Commonwealth Members". The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs. 90 (361): 529–539. doi:10.1080/00358530120082814.
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