Ottawa [Canada], June 7: Former Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya has extended a warm welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the upcoming G7 summit, scheduled to take place in Canada from June 15 to 17. Arya emphasized the growing significance of India on the world stage and called for a deeper, more structured bilateral relationship based on shared democratic values.
In a post on social media platform X, Arya wrote, “It would be my pleasure to welcome PM Narendra Modi to Canada for the G7 meeting during June 15-17. When I met PM Modi last July, I emphasized that Canada and India are united by shared values—democracy, pluralism, and a rules-based international order. India, an increasingly influential global actor with growing strategic, economic, and demographic weight, is an indispensable partner for Canada, both in the Indo-Pacific region and globally.”
He also stressed that it is in Canada’s national interest to enhance cooperation with India across various domains such as trade, investment, policy, and civil society.
https://x.com/AryaCanada/status/1931199514104213643
Earlier in the day, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted India’s crucial role in global discussions. As the G7 chair, Carney stated that the upcoming summit would focus on key global challenges including energy security, digital futures, and critical minerals. He underscored that India’s participation is essential, given its global economic and demographic standing.
“India is the fifth largest economy in the world and the most populous country. It is central to many global supply chains. There are certain countries that should be at the table for these discussions, and India is undoubtedly one of them,” Carney said.
The overture towards India comes after a significant diplomatic rift between the two countries, following Canadian accusations that Indian agents were involved in the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and pro-Khalistan activist, in Vancouver. India categorically denied the claims, and the fallout led to the expulsion of senior diplomats by both nations, straining bilateral ties.
The renewed engagement, signaled by the G7 invitation and public gestures from Canadian leaders, may represent a step towards mending the fractured relationship between the two democracies.