Monday, June 15, 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

    Montrealers frustrated with lack of Charlie Hebdo copies

    Montrealers frustrated with lack of Charlie Hebdo copies
    MONTREAL — About 100 people who lined up outside a Montreal store on Friday morning hoping to pick up a copy of Charlie Hebdo were left disappointed when fewer than expected were delivered.

    Montrealers frustrated with lack of Charlie Hebdo copies

    UofO hockey team won't play new season, will work on 'better guidance' for athletes

    UofO hockey team won't play new season, will work on 'better guidance' for athletes
    OTTAWA — The University of Ottawa says its men's varsity hockey team, which was suspended in connection with a sexual assault investigation last year, will not be participating in the 2015-2016 hockey season.

    UofO hockey team won't play new season, will work on 'better guidance' for athletes

    Baird starts four-day Israeli visit on Friday, and will travel to West Bank

    Baird starts four-day Israeli visit on Friday, and will travel to West Bank
    OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird decided not to visit one of Jerusalem's most contested holy sites, which has been a tinderbox of violence in recent months.

    Baird starts four-day Israeli visit on Friday, and will travel to West Bank

    Fraud fears prompt revenue agency to tighten checks on volunteer tax helpers

    Fraud fears prompt revenue agency to tighten checks on volunteer tax helpers
    OTTAWA — The federal revenue agency is stepping up scrutiny of volunteers who help prepare income-tax returns after a suspected fraudster was spotted at a tax clinic.

    Fraud fears prompt revenue agency to tighten checks on volunteer tax helpers

    Joe Oliver refuses to provide details on deadline for delayed budget

    Joe Oliver refuses to provide details on deadline for delayed budget
    OTTAWA — Finance Minister Joe Oliver is refusing to provide a deadline for the Conservative government's now-delayed federal budget, saying he doesn't want to get into "negative hypotheticals."

    Joe Oliver refuses to provide details on deadline for delayed budget

    One Dead, Three Injured After Being Hit By Vehicles In Metro Vancouver

    One Dead, Three Injured After Being Hit By Vehicles In Metro Vancouver
    Mounties in Langley say a 54-year-old man was hit by a truck at about 9:20 p.m. Thursday and has been pronounced dead in hospital.

    One Dead, Three Injured After Being Hit By Vehicles In Metro Vancouver