Page 24 - Canada

Canada ends popular student visa programme; India, 13 other nations hit

Student Direct Stream (SDS) was a popular international student programme which applied to students from India, China, Pakistan, Brazil, Senegal and several others

Many Khalistan supporters in Canada, they don't represent Sikhs: Trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the presence of Khalistan supporters in Canada but said they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole. His comments came during Diwali celebrations at Ottawa's Parliament Hill recently amid an ongoing diplomatic row with India over the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh Community as a whole. Similarly, there are supporters of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians, Trudeau said. The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing. New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd". India expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its high commissioner Sanjay Verma and other "targeted" officials from Canada after strongly ...

Canadian MP Chandra Arya slams politicians for dividing Hindus and Sikhs

The Canadian MP said that politicians are portraying Hindus and Sikhs as opposing sides regarding the attack on the temple by Khalistani extremists

Donald Trump's deportation plan key focus for Canada's Cabinet committee

President-elect Donald Trump's promise to launch a mass deportation of millions of undocumented people is a top focus for Canada, its deputy prime minister said Friday, as the country plans to deal with a possible influx north. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau re-established a special Cabinet committee on Canada-U.S relations to address his administration's concerns about another Trump presidency this week. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is chair of the revived committee, said what Trump's deportation plan would mean for Canada is a key priority for the committee. "I do want Canadians to know it is one of our two central points of focus," Freeland said after the group met for the first time since Trump's first term in office. Freeland said controlling Canada's border is fundamental. Canadians are right to be concerned about it, she said. Freeland said Canada has a plan, but she did not share any details. She said she spoke to the leaders of Canada's provinces about the

MEA trashes 'fake' document urging diaspora mobilisation against extremists

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday trashed as "fake" a 'one-page communication' circulating on social media that purportedly calls for mobilising groups of Indian diaspora to allegedly confront pro-Khalistani "extremists" in Canada. The "said government of India" communication is "fake", the External Publicity & Public Diplomacy Division of the MEA said. The "fake" document, bearing the name of the ministry and the year 2023, mentions the name of a top diplomat of India and is addressed to a senior diplomat in Ottawa. The surfacing of this "fake" document comes amid an escalating diplomatic row between India and Canada. The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd". Nijjar was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia i

Trudeau revives Cabinet-level panel to address concerns of Trump presidency

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday he is re-establishing a special Cabinet committee on Canada-US relations to address his administration's concerns about another Donald Trump presidency. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is also the country's finance minister, will chair the committee, which also will include other top officials including ministers of foreign affairs, public safety and industry. Following the election of President Donald Trump for a second term, the Cabinet Committee will focus on critical Canada-US issues, Trudeau's office said in a statement Thursday. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 75 per cent of Canada's exports go to the US. During Trump's first time, his move to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, and reports that he was considering a 25 per cent tariff on the auto sector were considered an existential threat in Canada at the time. Trudeau called Trump on Wednesday

TikTok's Canadian biz to be dissolved after govt order but app not blocked

Canada announced Wednesday it is ordering the dissolution of TikTok's Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media app but said it won't block access. Industry Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne said it is meant to address risks related to ByteDance Ltd.'s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc. The government is not blocking Canadians' access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content. The decision to use a social media application or platform is a personal choice," Champagne said. Champagne said it is important for Canadians to adopt good cybersecurity practices, including protecting their personal information. He said the dissolution order was made in accordance with the Investment Canada Act, which allows for the review of foreign investments that may harm Canada's national security. TikTok Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment. TikTok is wildly popular with young people, but

Trudeau condemns violence at Hindu temple in Brampton, no word on Khalistan

The statement came following the Khalistani extremists attacking Hindu-Canadian devotees within the Hindu Sabha temple premises in Brampton, Canada, on Sunday

'Canada approving visas for criminals': Ex-police official slams Trudeau

India-Canada diplomatic ties have hit their lowest in decades since Justin Trudeau charged India with being involved in the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year

Political space given to extremists: Jaishankar on temple attack in Canada

Hindu temples in Canada have recently become targets of attacks, ranging from graffiti with inflammatory slogans, acts of property damage, to clashes between groups

Thousands take out solidarity rally in Canada after pro-Khalistani attack on Hindu temple

Over a thousand Canadian Hindus gathered outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Canada on Monday evening (local time) to protest against the repeated attacks on Hindu temples in the country

Meesho under fire for selling t-shirts with Lawrence Bishnoi's image

A social media post was shared by filmmaker Alishan Jafri, who pointed out a series of t-shirts being sold on the company's platform, featuring Lawrence Bishnoi's images

Pro-Khalistani mob attacks devotees at Hindu temple in Canada's Brampton

The Indian High Commission in Canada issued a press release on Monday expressing disappointment over the November 3 attack on the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, allegedly by Khalistani activists

Trudeau never walks the talk: Canadian journalist on Brampton attack

Canadian Member of Parliament further expressed concerns that Khalistani extremists are taking advantage of Canada's freedom of expression laws

Trudeau condemns attack on Canada temple; High Commission issues statement

A fresh row erupted between India and Canada after a consular event at a Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, Canada, was targeted by Khalistanis on Sunday

No chance for ties to improve after Canada's diplomat surveillance: Expert

He also highlighted the deteriorating relationship between Canada and India

Ex-Indian envoy calls Canada's surveillance of diplomats 'aggressive' act

MEA announced that India has lodged a formal protest with the Canadian government after revelations that its consular officials in Canada were subjected to surveillance

US alerts India on Anmol Bishnoi, Mumbai Police push for extradition

US authorities have alerted Mumbai Police about Lawrence Bishnoi's brother Anmol Bishnoi's presence in the US; police have initiated extradition proceedings

Sikhs pilgrims of UK, US, Canada to get free online visas in Pak: Minister

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that Sikh pilgrims from the US, UK and Canada will receive free online visas within 30 minutes upon arrival in the country to pay respect to their religious sites. Naqvi's remarks came as he met with a 44-member foreign delegation of Sikh pilgrims in Lahore on Thursday. The minister warmly welcomed the Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan. He acknowledged that the Sikh pilgrims faced difficulties while visiting Pakistan in the past, according to a statement by the Ministry of Interior. Naqvi announced that the government has made the visa process easier for Sikhs by making it online. He added that holders of American, Canadian, and UK passports can apply online and receive their visas within 30 minutes without any fees. He noted that this facility extends also to Sikhs of Indian origin residing in these countries. He stated that providing more facilities to the Sikh community is his government's priority. He encouraged Sikhs pilgrims to visi

Firing at AP Dhillon's house: One suspect arrested; another still at large

Canadian police have arrested a suspect in the shooting outside singer AP Dhillon's residence, while a manhunt is underway for a second suspect believed to be in India