‘Ties with India a priority for govt’
: Attending his second Diwali celebration on consecutive nights, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed that economic ties with India were a priority for his government since it was formed and the current environment of protectionism provided greater opportunities for engagement between the two nations.
After lighting a ‘diya’ at an event in Ottawa’s Parliament on Monday evening, Trudeau attended the Canada India Business Council (C-IBC) Diwali Gala in Toronto on Tuesday.
Addressing those gathered, Trudeau said, “Building stronger trade relationships between Canada and India is a priority for our government since day one.” Given that the difficult process of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the United States is going on, in an oblique jab at the Trump administration, he said, “As countries around the world turn inward, as they fuel scepticism about trade agreements or are anxious about their borders, there’s an opportunity for Canada and India to forge an even stronger relationship.”
Trudeau also announced that three Canadian Ministers will visit India in mid-November, leading a trade mission that will include a delegation of Canadian businesses.
François-Philippe Champagne, minister of international trade; Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation, science and economic development; and Marc Garneau, minister of transport will be visiting India from November 12 to November 17. They will be attending the 23rd Technology Summit in New Delhi for which, Canada is a partner country.
Champagne, who was also present at the C-IBC event, said he believed “this is the time in our relationship to be ambitious.”
Reacting to Trudeau’s presence at the gala, C-IBC President and CEO Kasi Rao said that it “was a foundational moment in the bilateral economic relationship. The multi-Ministerial presence in India next month will provide momentum.”
He felt “there is a strategic window ahead of us to move from confluence to convergence. We intend to play our part in this deepening economic relationship.”
After switching on the ceremonial Diwali display at the event, Trudeau said, “The central message of Diwali is a message, I think, more people need to hear. We need to be reminded that light can and will triumph over darkness, that knowledge and hope are powerful and effective ways to counteract ignorance and despair. And that at the end of the day, evil doesn’t stand a chance when it’s up against all the good in the world.”
While he did not announce his own plans for visiting India any time soon, Trudeau sounded optimistic about the times ahead, as he said, “Canada and India have a long history together and I believe an even brighter future lies ahead.”
TORONTO