India-Canada ties hit a new low as trade minister Mary Ng postpones India trip
India and Canada have hit a new low as Canadian trade minister Mary Ng has 'postponed' a planned trade mission to Mumbai next month without giving any explanation.
The move comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's not-so-happy trip to India for the G20 Summit this month that also involved an extended stay here due to a snag in his flight.
Ng was to come to Mumbai on October 9 along with Canadian businesses for a five-day trip known as a 'Team Canada' trade mission to revive bilateral trade talks that are currently paused, review trade ties, and meet industry representatives.
«At this time, we are postponing the upcoming trade mission to India,» a spokesperson for the minister said without giving a reason, as per a Reuters report.
The relationship between Canada and India has been showing signs of strain in recent times with the Trudeau government taking limited steps to address India's concerns over anti-India activities in Canada.
Last Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed India's concerns to Trudeau following the G20 Summit here.
Officials here said extremist elements in Canada are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship. They said the nexus of such forces with organised crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well.
Modi had told Trudeau that it is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats.
