India Canada Relations | Growing Tensions and Key Issues

A recent report by a Canadian parliamentary committee has escalated tensions in India Canada relations, naming India as the second-biggest foreign threat to Canada’s democracy, ahead of Russia. This significant shift displaces Russia from its earlier ranking, highlighting the growing concerns between Ottawa and New Delhi

Key Points

• The report named China as the number-one threat. India has been moved up from the third spot in 2019 ahead of Russia in the foreign threat perception index.
• Earlier this year, unclassified documents shared by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) alleged interference in Canada’s elections by some countries, including India.
• The report alleges that India’s interference efforts in Canada have “extended beyond countering” pro-Khalistan elements.
• India had vehemently denied any such involvement, and termed the allegations “baseless”.
• The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians is a body composed of members of the House of Commons and Senate.
• Contrary to the 2019 report that identified Russia as the second most significant foreign interference threat, the recent committee report found Russia’s engagement in foreign interference activities specifically targeting Canadian democratic institutions and processes to be less than initially assessed.
• The committee’s report also noted the involvement of Pakistan and Iran in foreign interference activities.
• The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) report comes amid strained relations between India and Canada.
• Tensions escalated after Trudeau accused the Indian government of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected his claim, which called it “absurd and motivated”.

Historical Background of India Canada Relations

• During the freedom struggle, many Indian migrants settled in Canada.
• “Swadesh Sevak Home” in Vancouver was instrumental in mobilising the Indians against British rule.
• In 1947, India and Canada established diplomatic relations after the independence
• In the early years of their relationship, India and Canada focused on cooperation in areas such as development assistance and education
• However, India-Canada relations were at a crossroads when India conducted nuclear tests. It became low again when Sikh terrorists blew up Air India Flight 182 in 1985.
• In the 1990s, with the economic liberalization of India, the relationship began to expand into new areas, such as trade and investment.
• A significant moment in this relationship occurred in April 2015, when the Indian Prime Minister visited Canada, elevating bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.

Economic and Strategic Cooperation

Despite recent political tensions, India Canada relations have shown substantial cooperation across various sectors:

• Trade and Investment:

  • Canada is India’s 18th largest foreign investor, with investments of over $3.3 billion between 2000 and 2023.
  • In 2022, India ranked as Canada’s 13th-largest global trading partner and 9th in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Trade negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) have faced several pauses.

• Science and Technology:

  • Multiple MoUs signed during the India-Canada Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) meetings include fields like AI, quantum computing, and cyber systems.
  • IC-IMPACTS and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI) continue to foster academic and research exchanges.

• Space Cooperation:

  • India’s ISRO, through its commercial arm ANTRIX, has launched several Canadian satellites, including during its 100th satellite mission in 2018.

People-to-People Ties

The Indian diaspora in Canada plays a crucial role in shaping India Canada relations:

• Canada hosts 1.6 million people of Indian origin, making up over 4% of its population.
• Indian nationals dominate in key immigration categories:
  • 4.6 lakh PR applications from Indians between Jan 2020 and July 2023.
  • 8.7 lakh Indian study permit applications, making India the largest source of international students.
  • Over 5.4 lakh Indian work permit holders under Canada’s International Mobility Program.
• Canada is India’s 4th largest source of foreign tourists, accounting for 5.3% of FTAs in 2021.
• The Canadian Parliament currently includes over 15 Indian-origin MPs, many of whom hold key ministerial roles.

Political and Diplomatic Challenges

Despite shared democratic values, India Canada relations are currently at a low due to several contentious issues:

1. Khalistan Movement and Sikh Separatism:

• Canada is home to the largest Sikh population outside India, nearly 770,000 people.
• India’s concerns over Canada providing a platform to Khalistani separatist groups have intensified, especially after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
• Statements by Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar called out Canada’s inaction on Sikh extremism.

2. Trade Disruptions:

• Canada has raised concerns about Indian agricultural import restrictions, especially on lentils and chickpeas.
• India, in turn, criticized Canada’s inconsistent trade policy and political bias, halting FTA negotiations again in September 2023.

3. Human Rights and Immigration Policies:

• Canada has been vocal about human rights issues in India, especially concerning religious minorities.
• India has condemned attacks on Hindu temples in Canada and responded by suspending visas for Canadian nationals in late 2023.

4. Geopolitical Disagreements:

• On key international issues like Afghanistan, China, Iran, and terrorism, both countries often find themselves on opposing sides.
• Canada’s foreign policy has shifted focus to Asia-Pacific partnerships, sidelining its relationship with India.

Conclusion

The future of India Canada relations hinges on mutual respect, open dialogue, and a balanced approach to shared challenges. While the strategic and economic potential between the two democracies remains strong, political mistrust and domestic interference concerns have cast a long shadow over the bilateral partnership.

Rebuilding trust will require collaborative efforts, de-escalation of diplomatic tensions, and re-engagement on stalled negotiations. As two major players in the Indo-Pacific region, both India and Canada stand to gain immensely from a stable, transparent, and forward-looking partnership.

To Download Monthly Current Affairs PDF Click here

Click here to get a free demo

Discover all about CLAT Exam