India-Canada Relations
Background and Diplomatic Context
India-Canada diplomatic relations soured sharply in September 2023 when Canadian PM Justin Trudeau publicly alleged Indian government involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist and Khalistani activist, in Surrey, British Columbia (June 2023). India categorically denied the allegations, calling them "absurd and motivated."
The crisis escalated in October 2024 when Canada expelled India's High Commissioner and five other diplomats. India reciprocated by expelling six Canadian diplomats. FTA/CEPA talks, which had begun in 2010 and later shifted to an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), were formally paused.
Mark Carney succeeded Trudeau as Canadian Liberal leader and Prime Minister in early 2025, and the new government signalled interest in diplomatic reset with India — partly motivated by the US tariff threat to Canada under Trump, which has made diversifying trade partnerships a strategic imperative for Ottawa.
- FTA negotiations began: 2010; pivoted to EPTA (Early Progress Trade Agreement) in 2022
- Diplomatic crisis triggered: September 2023 (Nijjar killing allegation); talks suspended
- October 2024: mutual expulsion of six diplomats each (Canada expelled India's High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma)
- Bilateral trade 2023: $9.36 billion (goods); 2024 estimates put combined goods + services at over $30 billion
- Trade target: $50 billion by 2030 (announced at G20, November 2025)
- Indian diaspora in Canada: approximately 1.8 million (one of Canada's largest immigrant communities)
● Tracked since February 24, 2026 · last seen May 03, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes