‘Momentum’ Building in Canada-India Relations as Anand Meets Counterpart: Global Affairs

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met with her Indian counterpart at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Canada on Nov. 11, reflecting a growing “momentum” in the Canada-India bilateral relationship, Global Affairs Canada says.

Anand and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar discussed the progress being made on increasing co-operation between the two countries, Global Affairs said in a readout following the Nov. 11 meeting in Ontario’s Niagara Region.

Working on security issues has remained a key part of interactions with the Indian government as ties are rebuilt, the government said.

“The ministers exchanged views on the ongoing law-enforcement dialogue between Canadian and Indian authorities,” the Global Affairs statement said. “They also discussed the progress being made on the Canada-India joint road map, which sets out a plan to enhance cooperation in key areas, including energy, trade and people-to-people ties.”

The foreign affairs ministers also agreed to keep in touch as the two countries continue to strengthen their relationship.

The meeting marked the third time Anand and Jaishankar have met this year. The previous meeting was during Anand’s visit to India last month, where she also met with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Jaishankar says he was “delighted” to meet with Anand at the ministers’ meeting in Ontario.

“Appreciated the progress in implementation of the New Roadmap 2025,” Jaishankar said in a Nov. 11 X post. “Look forward to the further rebuilding of our bilateral partnership.”

Relationship Changes

Relations between the two countries soured in 2023 when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of being involved in the assassination of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. India has denied any involvement.

The country responded by lifting the immunity of Canadian diplomats in October of that year, leading Ottawa to pull 41 members of its diplomatic corps and their 42 dependents.

Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats in October 2024, including its high commissioner, saying they were “persons of interest” in the Nijjar case. India responded with tit-for-tat expulsions.

At the same time, the RCMP accused Indian government agents of being involved in serious criminal activity in Canada, including homicides and extortion. The RCMP said India was leveraging criminal groups like the Bishnoi Gang in this activity.

Ottawa added the Bishnoi Gang to its list of terrorist entities in September, citing the group’s involvement in criminal and violent acts such as murder and extortion, particularly targeting areas in Canada with significant South Asian communities.

Anand told reporters on Nov. 11 there is “a law enforcement dialogue” at the highest levels of government, including between the prime minister’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor and Indian government law enforcement officials.

“From a public safety standpoint, the Minister of Public Safety in our government designated the Bishnoi group as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code,” Anand told reporters.

“Furthermore, we are ensuring that in the bilateral engagement with India, that these rule of law concerns, that these public safety concerns, are foremost in the advancement of the relationship.”

The reset in relations between the two nations began in earnest when Modi visited Canada in June for the G7 Leaders’ Summit. The countries have since reappointed high commissioners and held high-level talks, including at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.

Ottawa and New Delhi have agreed to begin ministerial-level discussions, to resume the Canada-India CEO Forum, and to increase bilateral cooperation on “climate action,” environmental protection, technological fields, and traditional energy and mining, including trade in liquified natural gas and liquified petroleum gas.

Canada and India also agreed to a “joint roadmap” for cooperation last month, signalling another step forward in rebuilding diplomatic ties. 

Noé Chartier contributed to this report.