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

    CBC Denies 'Sabotage' Allegation Against Business Anchor Amanda Lang

    CBC Denies 'Sabotage' Allegation Against Business Anchor Amanda Lang
    The CBC, still dealing with fallout from the Jian Ghomeshi scandal, is defending one of its highest-profile personalities against a report that she attempted to "sabotage" a 2013 story about a bank that had sponsored some speeches or events at which she spoke.

    CBC Denies 'Sabotage' Allegation Against Business Anchor Amanda Lang

    Dentistry investigation should be done externally, Dalhousie senate told

    Dentistry investigation should be done externally, Dalhousie senate told
    HALIFAX — Members of Dalhousie University's senate argued Monday that the disciplinary process facing male dentistry students alleged to have posted sexually violent comments on Facebook about their female classmates should be conducted outside the faculty of dentistry.

    Dentistry investigation should be done externally, Dalhousie senate told

    Flames, thick smoke, mark final curtain for historic Edmonton theatre

    Flames, thick smoke, mark final curtain for historic Edmonton theatre
    EDMONTON — A historic entertainment venue in Edmonton that traced its roots back to the late 1930s has been destroyed by fire.

    Flames, thick smoke, mark final curtain for historic Edmonton theatre

    Attention passengers: police board plane, charge man with stealing megaphone

    Attention passengers: police board plane, charge man with stealing megaphone
    SASKATOON — A passenger on a WestJet flight to Saskatoon says police boarded the plane looking for someone who had snatched the aircraft's megaphone.

    Attention passengers: police board plane, charge man with stealing megaphone

    Conservative MP, anti-human trafficking activist from Manitoba not running again

    Conservative MP, anti-human trafficking activist from Manitoba not running again
    WINNIPEG — Another Manitoba Conservative MP says she is not running in the next election.

    Conservative MP, anti-human trafficking activist from Manitoba not running again

    Caisse de depot to finance and develop Quebec infrastructure projects

    Caisse de depot to finance and develop Quebec infrastructure projects
    MONTREAL — The Quebec government plans to have the Caisse de depot pension fund system take over the financing and ownership of infrastructure projects, starting with public transit.

    Caisse de depot to finance and develop Quebec infrastructure projects