Canada and India came to the table on Thanksgiving Monday not to break bread after months of tensions, but to trade stunning allegations, recriminations, and expulsions, sending diplomatic relations to an all-time low and imperiling Canada’s broader relationship with a country identified as a “critical partner” just two years ago.
The extraordinary episode was sparked by the RCMP’s disclosure to the government of “ample, clear, and concrete evidence” that allegedly identified six Indian consular officials and diplomats — including Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma — as “persons of interest” in the June 2023 death of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in Surrey, B.C.
Over the weekend, Ottawa requested that New Delhi waive the immunities of the six individuals in question. New Delhi refused and, on Monday morning, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly subsequently served them notices of expulsion. The Indian government then pre-emptively “recalled” the officials.
It is the largest public expulsion of foreign diplomats from Canada since 1978, when Pierre Trudeau’s government expelled 13 Soviet diplomats for alleged espionage.
In a press release on Monday, the RCMP underlined “the breadth and depth of criminal activity orchestrated by agents of the government of India” in Canada, alleging murders, extortion, coercion, and threats.
RCMP commissioner Michael Duheme warned that, despite law enforcement action, the “harm has continued, posing a serious threat to [Canadians’] safety.”
Later that day, Joly said the alleged violence “actually increased” following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s initial comments in September 2023 linking “agents of the government of India” to the death of Nijjar.
Support from allies has been modest: on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department said Washington wants “to see India co-operate with Canada’s investigation,” while on Wednesday, the U.K.’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said, “the government of India’s co-operation with Canada’s legal process is the right next step.”
Australia and New Zealand offered more tempered support.
India denies, retaliates
The Indian government responded by expelling six Canadian diplomats, including Canada’s acting high commissioner and deputy high commissioner in New Delhi.
India’s ministry of external affairs also issued a scathing 500-word statement, rejecting the RCMP’s allegations and labelling them “preposterous imputations” influenced by “the political agenda of the Trudeau Government.”
The statement — containing fiery language typically reserved for arch-rival Pakistan — also called Trudeau “hostile” to India and accused him of “smearing” the country for political gain.
Over the last year, Ottawa has repeatedly sought co-operation from the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the Toronto Star, Canada’s outreach efforts ramped up in advance of Monday’s bombshell allegations.
Over the weekend in Singapore, Canada’s deputy foreign affairs minister, national security and intelligence adviser, and the RCMP’s deputy commissioner met with Modi’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval.
The three civil servants reportedly spent five hours presenting RCMP evidence that “concluded six agents of the government of India are persons of interest in criminal activities,” according to Trudeau.
Insulating trade from the diplomatic crisis
Canadian trade minister Mary Ng released a statement on Monday attempting to reassure businesses that Ottawa “remains fully committed to supporting the well-established commercial ties between Canada and India.”
In September 2023, in response to Trudeau’s initial allegations, New Delhi avoided directly hobbling trade and investment, opting instead to briefly suspend visa services for Canadians.
In August 2024, monthly Canada-India merchandise trade totalled C$937 million. For comparison, Canada-China merchandise trade that month stood at C$10.9 billion.
