Canadian Senate Speaker Withdraws from G20 Parliamentary Speakers Summit Hosted by India
In an unexpected turn of events, Canadian Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagné has decided to abstain from the eagerly anticipated G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20), hosted by India. This surprising development follows Canada’s earlier confirmation of its participation in this significant diplomatic gathering.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced just last week that Canada had committed to attending the P20, which is being conducted in the heart of the Indian capital from October 12th to 14th. However, recent information from sources within India has confirmed that Raymonde Gagné has opted to refrain from the meeting without providing specific details about the reasons behind this decision.
The precise motivation for Canada’s withdrawal from the P20 remains shrouded in mystery, with no immediate clarity regarding the underlying factors. Raymonde Gagné, a Senate appointee by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2016, was initially expected to be a prominent figure at the summit.
This development emerges against a backdrop of ongoing tensions between India and Canada, stemming from Trudeau’s recent accusation. In September, Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents were linked to the assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India vehemently dismissed these allegations as “absurd,” maintaining that Nijjar, a designated terrorist by India, was assassinated by unknown assailants in a gurdwara parking lot in Surrey town.
India-Canada relations, already strained due to the activities of Khalistani elements on Canadian soil, reached a new low following Trudeau’s allegations. Subsequently, both nations expelled a senior diplomat each, and India sought parity in diplomatic representation through a significant reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats stationed in India.
On Wednesday, Indian authorities refrained from commenting on a report by the Financial Times, suggesting that Canada had not withdrawn any diplomats in response to India’s demands for parity. Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that ongoing communications were taking place between the two nations to address this issue.
Furthermore, India made no official statement about the Financial Times report, which claimed that Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly recently held a “secret meeting” with her Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, in Washington. This report followed India’s request for Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats from India by October 10.
In light of these developments, India has issued an advisory to its nationals in Canada, urging them to exercise “utmost caution” due to “growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes.” The advisory also labeled Canada as a “safe haven” for extremists and terrorists while accusing Ottawa of failing to act upon “very specific evidence” shared by New Delhi concerning criminal activities by Khalistani elements operating from within Canada.
Notably, according to information provided by the Lok Sabha secretariat, Germany and Argentina will also be absent from the P20 Summit due to “internal reasons,” with both countries expressing their regrets.
Speaker Om Birla emphasized that the central theme of the P20 meeting is “India as the mother of democracy.” He indicated that the summit will encompass discussions on various global issues, including those pertaining to Canada’s recent allegations against India.
The P20 serves as a platform for speakers and presidents of parliaments from G20 countries to exchange ideas and best practices on matters of global significance, fostering international dialogue and cooperation.