How Trudeau can recover from India snafu
Pierre Elliott Trudeau was admired in India — both as a friend of the country as well as a brilliant tactician who understood the intricacies of a federation. He fought to preserve the integrity of Canada. How ironic that his son Justin — the current prime minister of Canada — stands accused of fomenting separatist sentiments in a vibrant democracy far, far away.
Now that the PM has returned to Ottawa, with memories of “exotic” India receding into the past, it’s time to assess the damage and devise an India strategy based on realism and practicality.
The prime minister should start with a clear, unqualified statement condemning separatists and others who pose a threat to India’s integrity. This does not mean disregarding the sentiments of the Sikh constituency here at home. Quite the opposite.
Wait for the right time to encourage India to pay heed to Sikhs’ long list of legitimate grievances. Canada does know a thing or two about “greater provincial autonomy,” “special status within the federation,” and atonement for infractions of the past. Many Sikhs around the world would applaud Trudeau for encouraging dialogue between Sikh hard-liners and the Indian government.
Trudeau should refrain from flippant comments like how he has more Sikhs in his cabinet than India’s. The unintended consequences of such vacuous statements smack of tokenism and reflect an amateurishness and naiveté wholly unbecoming any prime minister.
Trudeau should be a diplomat, a mediator — someone who brings about reconciliation, not friction. That is the Canadian way of seeking to punch above its weight, in this case wholly warranted by the context.
Trudeau should show a deeper understanding of India’s economic development needs as well as its ongoing transformation into a technologydriven society.
The biggest game is in the town of Bangalore, where, rather quietly, scientists are busy on R&D in future-altering pursuits such as quantum computing and development of low-cost products such as the $50 EKG machine — the size of a cigarette pack — that can be hooked up to the internet.
Marketing Canada’s infrastructure expertise to state governments should be a top priority, particularly as the Modi government is aggressively courting foreign direct investment in power generation, transportation infrastructure, clean tech and related areas.
Trudeau might consider shaking up the Privy Council Office and maintaining tighter control of his own staff. It is clear that several people dropped the ball in terms of the failed India mission. Trudeau’s visit should never have morphed into a private trip with friends of Indian origin where the highlight was the next pose of Trudeau and family in different ethnic attire.
How did this extraordinary bumbling occur? Most likely, Trudeau did not heed the warnings of interference and undue influence from various sources within his government. It’s time to take another look at the organizational chart and the people who sit in those boxes.
In due course, Trudeau should arrange woman-to-woman talks between Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and her counterpart in India: Sushma Swaraj. Both are known for their no-nonsense approach to business and negotiations. Freeland might be tasked with delivering on a conclusion to the longawaited Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Swaraj has the ear of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Finally, Trudeau’s image is becoming problematic.
His visit to India has made it abundantly clear that his brand and charm are wearing dangerously thin. Ditto the ice on which he is skating. At the end of the day, a successful brand must eventually become a reflection of superior performance.
Therefore, Trudeau should focus on delivering key promises and then market the outcomes.
The prime minister’s next steps should be looking to advance the mutual interests of both countries based on existing opportunities, future needs and minimal friction on issues where positions may diverge.
Trudeau was “ready” the last time, and the electorate gave him a chance. The next election will be different. People will be assessing his readiness based on actual performance. This may prove difficult for the prime minister if he fails to learn from the many errors of his trip to India.