 "Is Justin Trudeau’s resignation as Canada's PM good news for India?")
Justin Trudeau has resigned as Canada’s prime minister.
Trudeau, who has been at the helm in Canada for over a decade, blamed internal battles for his decision.
“I don’t easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well-being of democracy” are “something that I hold dear,” Trudeau said.
But is his resignation good news for India?
Let’s take a closer look:
Prolonged spat with India
First, let’s take a brief look at the Trudeau’s government’s prolonged spat with India.
Ties between the two countries actually first dipped in 2018 after Trudeau made a trip to India.
The trip, made at the invite of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was widely seen as a catastrophe.
The visit was overshadowed from the outset by the story that a convicted former member of a Sikh separatist group was invited to a formal event hosted by the Canadian High Commissioner.
The invitation was only rescinded after CBC News got in touch with the Prime Minister’s Office.
Trudeau and his family wearing traditional Indian garb also did not go down well.
Many people saw it as pandering, while others mocked Trudeau for appropriating Indian culture.
Then, in 2022, Trudeau added salt to the wounds when he became the first leader to comment on the farmers’ protests in India.
Trudeau, making the remarks during an online event to mark the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, said he would be remiss if he didn’t recognise the “news coming out of India about the protest by farmers.”
“The situation is concerning and we are all very worried about family and friends and I know that is a reality for many of you,” Trudeau said in the video posted on his Twitter account.
“Let me remind you, Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest. We believe in importance of dialogue and that is why we have reached out through multiple means directly to Indian authorities to highlight our concerns,” he said.
Then, in June 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar , whom the Indian government had designated as a terrorist, was shot dead outside a gurudwara in Vancouver.
Canada halts talks on a proposed trade treaty with India.
Canada in September 2023 then halted a trade mission to India planned for October.
A Canadian official said this occurred over concerns surrounding Nijjar’s killing.
Trudeau in Canadian Parliament then alleged there were ‘credible allegations’ of a potential link of India’s hand in Nijjar’s killing.
“Over the past number of weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said.
New Delhi called the allegations ‘absurd’ and demanded Ottawa to do something about anti-India groups operating from its turf.
The MEA termed the accusations “absurd and motivated”.
It added that the “unsubstantiated allegations” sought to change attention from “Khalistani terrorists and extremists who have been provided shelter in Canada.”
But Trudeau refused to back down.
In fact, the next day he repeated the allegations, saying if they were true they had “far-reaching consequences in international law and otherwise.”
Canada then expelled India’s top diplomat Pavan Kumar Varma.
New Delhi responded by expelling Canadian diplomat Olivier Sylvestre.
India also upped the ante by restricting visas for Canadians and urging its citizens in Canada to ‘exercise caution.’
“In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution,” the statement read.
Canada in April 2024 then accused India of meddling in its elections.
New Delhi denied the charge.
Canadian police in May then claimed to have arrested members of a hit squad allegedly charged by the Government of India with killing Nijjar.
India in June 2024 slammed Canada’s Parliament observing “one minute silence” in the memory of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and advocacy of violence,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Canada in October accused the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats of being ‘persons of interest’ in an investigation into the killing of Nijjar.
India dismissed the allegations as ‘preposterous’ and accused Trudeau of trying to play to a local vote bank.
India then withdrew its diplomats including the high commissioner from Canada.
“We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials,” India’s foreign ministry said.
New Delhi also downgraded its diplomatic ties with Ottawa.
What do experts say?
Some say Trudeau’s exit could be a chance to reset relations between the two countries.
A piece in Indian Express noted that from New Delhi’s perspective Trudeau was living on borrowed time given the opinion polls.
The Centre viewed Trudeau as having adopted a “scorched earth” policy when it comes to India over Nijjar – which has led to a nadir in ties.
“With Trudeau’s departure, some view it as a time and opportunity to repair the damage done in the last year-and-half,” the piece argued.
“With Trudeau gone, the temperature might be a bit lower in India-Canada ties — the acrimony and the sharp anti-India public statements and political rhetoric is expected to tone down a bit.”
However, the piece pointed out that Trudeau’s rhetoric makes it harder for the next person who takes power in Canada to manoeuvre.
“But a change in the leadership is expected to give a chance to “stabilise” ties,” the piece concluded.
A piece in The Times of India noted that Trudeau’s exit comes amid “heightened tension” between Canada and India over the killing of Nijjar.
“With no substantial evidence presented by Trudeau’s team, the accusation left a cloud of distrust hanging over bilateral ties. Now, as Trudeau steps down, the future of Canada-India relations hangs in the balance,” the piece argued.
The piece contended that Trudeau stepping down could result in a sea-change on Canada’s approach towards India.
“The question on many minds is whether the Liberal Party will elect a new leader who continues Trudeau’s critical stance or whether a new government will seek a fresh diplomatic approach,” the piece stated.
The piece argued that with the Conservative Party now favoured to come to power under Pierre Poilievre, it is possible that tensions could be reduced.
However, it also noted Poilievre’s approach towards Canada’s Indian diaspora most notably his choice to withdraw from a Diwali event in 2022.
“The coming months will be crucial in determining how the leadership transition plays out and what it means for Canada’s position on the global stage, particularly in its dealings with India,” the piece concluded.
A piece in Economic Times argued that Trudeau’s resignation spurs critical questions about the future of Canada-India relations.
“While Trudeau’s government had a confrontational stance toward India, the next leader of the Liberal Party could either continue this approach or adopt a more conciliatory tone. If the new leader aligns with Trudeau’s policies, tensions may persist, possibly escalating the diplomatic dispute further,” the piece contended.
The article, however, noted the opportunity of the two countries making inroads in areas of trade and diplomatic engagement.
“If the new leader seeks to repair relations with India, it could mark the beginning of a new phase in Canada-India ties, where the focus may shift towards cooperation rather than conflict,” the piece argued.
It also noted that Poilievre has vowed to take a different approach on India.
Poilievre has called for a “professional relationship” with New Delhi, singling India out as “the largest democracy on Earth.”
“We need a professional relationship with the Indian government. India is the largest democracy on Earth. And it’s fine to have our disagreements and to hold each other accountable, but we have to have a professional relationship, and that is what I will restore when I’m Prime Minister of this country,” he was quoted as saying.
The article argued that the next federal election in Canada, slated for October 2025, will be key to the relationship.
“The coming months will be critical for the future of Canada’s position on the global stage and its relationships with key international partners, particularly India. Whether Trudeau’s successor continues his approach or pivots to a new direction, the impact of these decisions will be felt for years to come,” the piece concluded.
A piece in Times Now noted that Poilievre could be good for India when it comes to immigration and studies.
“We’re going to return to the system we had before Justin Trudeau. A modest number of highly promising young people who excelled could come here, study, and if they followed the rules, they could stay,” Poilievre said.
It remains to be seen whom succeeds Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister and where the relationship with India goes.
With inputs from agencies
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