OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Canada Dec. 11 and 12. Carney made the remarks while speaking with visitors at a local restaurant in Calgary on Thursday morning, as he meets with Albertans ahead of Monday’s referendum vote. The prime minister, who said he “just spoke” to Modi, also said the visit will take place in Toronto and Ottawa, but added, “We’ll see if we can broaden it out.” International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu is currently leading a six-day trade mission in India as both countries seek to finalize a trade pact by the end of this year, with the goal of doubling two-way trade to $70 billion annually by 2030. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand also met with her Indian counterpart, Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Modi’s highly anticipated visit comes as Canada and India recalibrate their relationship after years of tension. In 2023, former prime minister Justin Trudeau stood up in the House of Commons and said there were “credible allegations” that agents of the Indian government were involved in the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. A year later, the RCMP and the federal government accused Indian diplomats and consular officials based in Canada of engaging in clandestine activities linked to serious criminal activity including homicides and extortions. In response to those allegations, Canada expelled six diplomats, while India kicked out six Canadian diplomats in retaliation. India has denied any involvement and Canadian officials have previously said India refused to co-operate in any investigation. But since Carney became prime minister last year, the tone towards India has shifted. Last November, while visiting India, Carney said he considers the country to be “a reliable trading partner.” The RCMP, meanwhile, have since said there are no current criminal links connecting India to transnational repression in Canada. “In the files that we have that involve transnational repression, we’re not seeing any connection right now with any foreign entity, based on the criminal information, the investigations that we have presently,” RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said to CTV Question Period back in March. The RCMP later clarified Duheme’s comments, saying the police organization is aware of incidents of intimidation and harassment by foreign states, but is unable to identify current criminal links.
