Trudeau stands by allegation as India denies link to killing of Canadian Sikh leader
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is standing by Canadian intelligence indicating India played a role in the death of a Canadian citizen despite New Delhi calling the claim "absurd," and is calling on the country to take the matter "seriously."
"India and the government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness. We are doing that. We are not looking to provoke or escalate. We are simply laying out the facts as we understand them," Trudeau said Tuesday.
"For Canada, as I said yesterday, we’re going to remain calm. We’re going to remain grounded in our democratic principles and values, and we’re going to follow the evidence and make sure that the work is done to hold people to account."
The prime minister would not comment on whether India is co-operating, saying the Indian government "will be able to speak for itself."
- Capital Dispatch: Sign up for the latest in federal politics and why it matters
- Sign up for breaking news alerts from Â鶹´«Ã½, right at your fingertips
On Monday afternoon, Trudeau told the House of Commons in a rare statement on a matter of national security that Canadian intelligence agencies were investigating "credible allegations" that agents of the Indian government were involved in the June death of prominent Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in B.C.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly then announced Canada had expelled a "key Indian diplomat," Pavan Kumar Rai, who is listed as the head of Canadian operations for the Research and Analysis Wing, India's foreign intelligence agency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government hit back early Tuesday, denying any involvement in any act of violence on Canadian soil and announcing it would be reciprocally expelling a senior Canadian diplomat out of concern for interference in internal affairs.
The High Commissioner of Canada to India was summoned and informed about the expulsion, and the need for the unnamed diplomat to leave the country within five days, India said.
"Allegations of Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated. Similar allegations were made by the Canadian prime minister to our prime minister, and were completely rejected," said India's Ministry of External Affairs in a statement.
"Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern,"
"We urge the Government of Canada to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil."
Asked on his way in to a Tuesday morning cabinet meeting why the Canadian government went public with this allegation, Trudeau said since the summer officials had been working closely with intelligence agencies to "make sure that we had solid grounding in understanding what was going on."
And, after raising the matter directly with allies and India on the sidelines of the G20, Trudeau said he felt that Canadians had the "right to know."
'WE WANT TO SEE MORE': POILIEVRE
The opposition parties were quick to unite in shock and dismay over this alleged affront to Canadian sovereignty, but on Tuesday Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters that he thinks Trudeau needs to provide more information on the matter to the public.
"We need to know all the evidence possible so that Canadians can make judgments on that," he said. "The prime minister hasn't provided any facts. He provided a statement, and I will just emphasize that he didn't tell me any more in private than he told Canadians in public. So we want to see more information," he said.
Nijjar was shot dead by two masked gunmen in the parking lot of his gurdwara in Surrey. B.C. and Sikh community leaders had asserted that the government of India was involved.
Homicide investigators have not made any arrests in relation to his slaying, or named a motive.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team : two “heavy-set men wearing face coverings†who were seen fleeing the scene on foot, and a third person waiting in a getaway car parked a few blocks away.
In a statement on Monday, the homicide investigation team said it was aware of Trudeau's comments about the "active and ongoing investigation," but wouldn't be commenting on the specifics as it continues to gather evidence.
“This remains a priority investigation for the Integrated Homicide Investigative Team (IHIT) and we have and will continue to work closely with our local, provincial and national police agencies and partners in order to advance this investigation," said Sgt. Timothy Pierotti.
As The Canadian Press has reported, India had issued an arrest warrant for Nijjar over his advocacy for the Khalistan movement, which calls for an independent homeland for Sikhs in India's Punjab region.
QUESTIONS OVER CSIS AND PROTECTION
Outside of India, Canada is home to the largest Sikh community in the world. in Canada have said they are glad to hear the Canadian government corroborate something that they've suspected, but want to see further action in holding India to account.
Speaking on Parliament Hill, Mukhbir Singh, of the World Sikh Organization of Canada, said that while Trudeau's revelation may have shocked many Canadians, it was not a surprise to the Sikh community.
Noting the reports that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had reached out to him to warn him prior to Nijjar’s death, about being targeted for assassination, Singh called for several further actions by the federal government including "immediate protection" for Sikhs in Canada who face a threat.
"India cannot be allowed to disregard the rule of law and the sovereignty of foreign states…India must honour its international obligations and co-operate with the government of Canada in investigating these matters," he said.
Public Safety and Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc said he's instructed CSIS to share any information about Nijjar's death with police, and the RCMP is "developing plans" with local police forces to protect Canadians.
This major international development—coming amid a heightened focus on foreign interference in Canada and ongoing tensions with India—quickly became the dominating topic of discussion on Parliament Hill on Tuesday.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced that he'd leading the public inquiry to ask that India specifically be included in her examination of foreign interference in Canada.
"In my experience, as a Sikh-Canadian, there have always been suspicions that India was interfering in the democratic rights of Canadians. Yesterday's announcement by the prime minister confirms that these suspicions are valid," Singh wrote.
Justice Marie-Josee Hogue was already mandated to look beyond China, to include other foreign states and non-state actors.
"Given these allegations, there's no doubt now that India should be included in the public inquiry, and that any and all forms of interference need to be investigated thoroughly," Singh said.
MINISTERS CALL FOR CALM, U.S. COMMENTS
Ministers, speaking to reporters on their way in to a cabinet meeting, talked about how difficult this news of a potential extrajudicial killing of a Canadian has been to digest, particularly for those with ties to India and who have large diaspora communities in their ridings, while urging calm.
Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan, who is Sikh and has pushed back on India's accusation of Sikh extremists holding top positions within Trudeau's government, expressed hope that India will co-operate.
"I’ve been engaged with some of my colleagues not only who come from the community but who represent large populations from India within their communities, and they’re having a hard time," said Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Sean Fraser.
Seeking to dispel "baseless rumours" he said were circulating, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc to state that Nijjar "became a Canadian citizen on March 3, 2015." The on Wednesday, stating "Mr. Nijjar became a Canadian citizen on May 25, 2007."
MPs in the House of Commons concerning the allegations against India. It lasted late into Tuesday night.
While allied countries have begun issuing statements calling for a fulsome investigation, some foreign affairs and intelligence experts said a hesitancy to be more vocal can be attributed to the delicate diplomatic balancing act that is required given India's strategic and economic importance to many countries.
"We are deeply concerned about the allegations referenced by PM Trudeau yesterday," said a U.S. State Department spokesperson in a comment to Â鶹´«Ã½. "We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners. It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice."
Vincent Rigby, a former national security and intelligence advisor to Trudeau said that while the prime minister dropping this "really big" accusation was shocking, members of the security community did have in the back of their minds the potential for India to be involved in Nijjar's death, from the time his slaying hit the news.
"The prime minister would not state this publicly unless he had some pretty solid evidence, and he had some really solid intelligence… He also sent his national security and intelligence adviser and the director of CSIS to India to have these conversations," he said
"So, I'm not suggesting they have a smoking gun, but they've got they've got something really, really hard to go on here."
With files from Â鶹´«Ã½' Tom Yun, Spencer Van Dyk, Annie Bergeron-Oliver, and Â鶹´«Ã½ Vancouver's Kaija Jussinoja
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP needs to decide whether 4 million Canadians deserve dental care: minister
Procurement Minister and newly appointed Quebec lieutenant Jean-Yves Duclos is warning the NDP that the dental care program it helped put into place will be in jeopardy if it pulls its support from the governing Liberals.
Coffee could be more than a morning pick-me-up, according to new research
A morning cup of coffee may do more than just perk you up, according to new research.
Building collapse in Naples leaves 2 siblings dead and mother and another woman trapped
A two-story building collapsed in the southern Italian province of Naples early Sunday, killing two young siblings and leaving their mother and an older woman trapped, firefighters said.
'Hubris and greed': Takeaways from the first week of U.S. Coast Guard inquiry into the Titan submersible disaster
More than a year after the Titan submersible imploded, killing all five voyagers on board, the story of the ill-fated expedition to the Titanic has taken the form of a modern-day Greek tragedy overflowing with mortal pride and heedlessness.
What is the U.S. Electoral College? America's path to the presidency, explained
In less than two months, Americans will go to the polls to choose their next president. But the process that translates those millions of votes into one seat in the Oval Office is much more complicated than a straight tally.
Sunken superyacht believed to contain watertight safes with sensitive intelligence data
Specialist divers surveying the wreckage of the US$40 million superyacht that sank off Sicily in August, killing seven people including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, have asked for heightened security to guard the vessel, over concerns that sensitive data locked in its safes may interest foreign governments, multiple sources told CNN.
Marxist lawmaker Anura Dissanayake claims victory in Sri Lanka's presidential election
Marxist lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday claimed he had won Sri Lanka’s presidential election.
Myths busted and lessons learned: John Vennavally-Rao on his surgery to reverse his ostomy
Twenty-seven year Â鶹´«Ã½ reporter and anchor John Vennavally-Rao shares his story of what it was like to have an ostomy bag as part of his health-care battle. 'I’m grateful for what it did to extend my life,' he writes in a personal column for CTVNews.ca.
Kate, the Princess of Wales, makes first public appearance after cancer treatment
Kate, the Princess of Wales, made her first public appearance Sunday since she announced she had completed chemotherapy and would return to some public duties.
Local Spotlight
Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.
Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.
An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.
They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.
A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.
Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.
The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.
It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.