Sunday, June 14, 2026
ADVT 
National

Canada Must Guard Against Terrorism: PM Harper

IANS, 24 Jun, 2015 12:56 PM
    Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism and so "continued vigilance is essential", Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said.
     
    Harper made the remarks on Tuesday while laying a wreath in the Hall of Honour to mark the "National day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism" observed to honour those killed in the 1985 Air India bombing.
     
    An Air India flight flying from Toronto to London crashed off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board. Most of the dead were Canadians of Indian origin. 
     
    Sikh extremists were blamed for the bombing.
     
    Harper said he cannot "help but cast his mind back to the Canadians who perished in Air India Flight 182 and in the World Trade Centre attacks... and to the many terrorist activities foiled by the vigilance of Canadian security agencies.
     
    "The recollections serve as a reminder that Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism and that continued vigilance is essential."
     
    Addressing a gathering in parliament building here, he said it was a terror attack that killed the 329 passengers and crew members aboard Air India. 
     
    "On this sombre anniversary, we stand in solidarity with the friends and families who lost loved ones in that heinous attack and honour those lost.
     
    "We were deeply moved by this solemn tribute as well as by our meeting the kin of the victims," he added.
     
    Among the kin of the victims present was Susheel Gupta, whose mother Ramvati died in the bombing. Gupta said he regretted that his children would not be able to meet their grandmother.
     
    Meanwhile, a memorial service in Ireland was attended by India's Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan and Canadian Minister of Justice Peter MacKay.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Former Bloc MP Maria Mourani to run for New Democrats in Montreal riding

    Former Bloc MP Maria Mourani to run for New Democrats in Montreal riding
    MONTREAL — A former Bloc Quebecois MP is now the official candidate for the NDP in the multi-ethnic north Montreal riding of Ahuntsic-Cartierville.

    Former Bloc MP Maria Mourani to run for New Democrats in Montreal riding

    Alberta Court of Appeal orders new trial for mom accused of strangling daughter

    Alberta Court of Appeal orders new trial for mom accused of strangling daughter
    CALGARY — A mother accused of strangling her teenage daughter is to face a new trial.

    Alberta Court of Appeal orders new trial for mom accused of strangling daughter

    RCMP charge parents, stepsister with killing toddler on Manitoba reserve

    RCMP charge parents, stepsister with killing toddler on Manitoba reserve
    WINNIPEG — A mother and father from a Manitoba reserve have been charged with killing their young daughter.

    RCMP charge parents, stepsister with killing toddler on Manitoba reserve

    Hillary Clinton says Canada, world must fight terrorist propaganda

    Hillary Clinton says Canada, world must fight terrorist propaganda
    WINNIPEG — Former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton is calling on Canada to continue fighting the "ideology of hate" and extremist propaganda fuelling terrorism.

    Hillary Clinton says Canada, world must fight terrorist propaganda

    Alberta Mountie was being proactive when he was fatally shot in casino

    Alberta Mountie was being proactive when he was fatally shot in casino
    ST. ALBERT, Alta. — RCMP say an officer who died Wednesday was being proactive in a stolen truck investigation when he and another officer were shot inside a casino.

    Alberta Mountie was being proactive when he was fatally shot in casino

    Defrocked Arctic priest says he's sorry for sex abuse of children

    Defrocked Arctic priest says he's sorry for sex abuse of children
    IQALUIT, Nunavut — A courtroom swelled with weeping, cries and 35 years of bottled-up grief Thursday as a defrocked priest who abused dozens of Inuit children told a judge about to sentence him that he's sorry for his crimes and won't commit any more.

    Defrocked Arctic priest says he's sorry for sex abuse of children