Ambassador to U.S. calls American response to Canada's allegations against India 'strong'
Canada鈥檚 ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman is calling the United States鈥 response to Canada鈥檚 allegations against India 鈥渟trong,鈥 as other allies have opted not to condemn India publicly.
鈥淚 think (the U.S.) response has been strong,鈥 Hillman said in an interview with CTV鈥檚 Power Play on Wednesday. 鈥淭hey also expressed deep concern with the information that has come out recently.鈥
But sources connected to Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly鈥檚 office tell 麻豆影视 that Canadian officials are concerned about how far the U.S. is willing to go with its support for Canada given America鈥檚 strategic push to expand bilateral ties with India.
In a rare move on Monday, 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 in this country, including homicides and extortions.
The RCMP also said they had identified more than a dozen credible and imminent threats on the lives of people in Canada who are tied to the pro-Khalistan movement, which supports a separate Sikh state from Indian territory. India has rejected the allegations.
In response, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including India鈥檚 High Commissioner, whom Joly called 鈥減ersons of interest鈥 in the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in B.C. last year. India also expelled six Canadian diplomats in what appeared to be a tit-for-tat retaliation.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called Canada鈥檚 allegations 鈥渆xtremely serious鈥 in a press briefing on Tuesday.
鈥淲e wanted to see the Government of India cooperate with Canada in its investigation. Obviously, they have not chosen that path,鈥 Miller said.
But when asked about India鈥檚 decision to expel six Canadian diplomats, Miller would not answer directly.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have any comment on that. But as we鈥檝e said before, they鈥檙e serious allegations,鈥 Miller said.
This week, an Indian delegation visited Washington to discuss an alleged murder-for-hire plot that U.S. officials revealed last November. According to an unsealed indictment, an Indian government employee directed an attempted assassination in the U.S., and spoke about others, including Nijjar.
Unlike its response to Canada, India has co-operated with the U.S. investigation. India continues to claim Canada has yet to share evidence, despite the fact that Canadian officials presented information to India this past weekend.
Asked if the U.S. investigation has impacted that country鈥檚 relationship with India, Miller said India 鈥渃ontinues to be an incredibly strong partner of the United States.鈥
In her interview with CTV鈥檚 Power Play, Hillman acknowledged that India has responded differently to Canada compared to the U.S.
鈥淚t hasn't been as successful. You're quite right,鈥 Hillman told host Mike Le Couteur. 鈥淏ut I think what's important to say here is that we're all among our allied countries, trying to work together and support each other.鈥
Other allies in the Five Eyes, which is an intelligence-sharing alliance, have also called for India to co-operate, but some statements have not referenced India directly.
In a statement to 麻豆影视 on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Australia鈥檚 department of foreign affairs and trade said, 鈥淎ustralia has made clear our concerns about the allegations under investigation in Canada, and our respect for Canada鈥檚 judicial process.鈥
鈥淥ur position of principle is that the sovereignty of all countries should be respected and that the rule of law should be respected.鈥
New Zealand鈥檚 Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters also commented on social media platform 鈥淴,鈥 and did not name India.
鈥淭he alleged criminal conduct outlined publicly by Canadian law enforcement authorities, if proven, would be very concerning,鈥 Peters wrote.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the U.K.鈥檚 foreign commonwealth and development office said 鈥淭he U.K. has full confidence in Canada鈥檚 judicial system. Respect for sovereignty and the rule of law is essential.鈥
鈥淭he Government of India鈥檚 co-operation with Canada鈥檚 legal process is the right next step.鈥
With files from CTV鈥檚 Question Period senior producer Brennan Macdonald
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government鈥檚 three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party鈥檚 popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn鈥檛 be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING
Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.
PM Trudeau doesn't think his leadership is in danger, as ministers voice confidence in him a day before key Liberal meeting
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think his leadership is in danger, one day before a highly anticipated Liberal caucus meeting where his future at the helm of the Liberal party is expected to be up for discussion.
Asian American boba brand finds opportunity after Simu Liu sparks cultural appropriation debate
The Asian American boba milk tea brand, Twrl, have a chance to pitch a pretty well-known investor -- actor Simu Liu. The irony is that it came about after the owners posted a video on TikTok in support of Liu calling out the white owners of a boba drink brand for cultural appropriation on "Dragons' Den," the Canadian version of "Shark Tank."
Hoard of 1,000-year-old coins unearthed in a farmer's field sells for US$5.6 million
Adam Staples knew he'd found something when his metal detector let out a beep. And then another. And another.
What is 'pink cocaine'? Designer drug linked to Liam Payne and named in Diddy lawsuit
A partial autopsy has revealed that former One Direction singer Liam Payne had multiple substances in his system when he plunged to his death from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
W5 Investigates You donated clothing to needy Canadians. So how did it end up in Africa?
In the first of a four-part investigation into the seedy underbelly of the lucrative clothing donation bin industry, CTV W5 puts a spotlight on how some of the clothes Canadians donate to charity end up in markets in Africa.
Giant fish thought to be extinct is spotted in the Mekong River
A huge fish in the Mekong River thought to be extinct has been spotted three times in recent years.
opinion Tom Mulcair: What's Justin Trudeau's track record on Quebec separatism?
With the threat of Quebec separatism rearing its head with the PQ on the rise and its leader promising a referendum on Quebec sovereignty if he's elected, commentators have been fretting about the possibility of a third referendum. Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says it's not going to happen. Here's why.
A Toronto woman said the cost of parking to visit her mother in hospital, and later in long term care, for 15 months was a financial burden she feels she shouldn鈥檛 have had to pay.
Local Spotlight
A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.
A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.
A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.
Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.
Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.
The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.
A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.
A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the 鈥楩ellow in Yellow.鈥
John Cantin vividly remembers opening day for his Victoria diner. Stress levels were high, tables were full, and one of the most popular menu items couldn鈥檛 be freed from the unyielding grip of the waffle maker.