Sunday, June 21, 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

    High household debt still a key risk to Canadian economy: Bank of Canada

    High household debt still a key risk to Canadian economy: Bank of Canada
    OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada is once again pointing a finger at mounting household debt as one of the biggest weak spots in the country's economic armour.

    High household debt still a key risk to Canadian economy: Bank of Canada

    Slumping oil prices to impact home prices in Calgary in 2015: Re/Max report

    Slumping oil prices to impact home prices in Calgary in 2015: Re/Max report
    TORONTO — Slumping oil prices are likely to impact Calgary's real estate market in the coming year, causing home prices to slow their rapid acceleration in Alberta's largest city, according to a report by realtor group Re/Max.

    Slumping oil prices to impact home prices in Calgary in 2015: Re/Max report

    Today on the Hill: Supreme Court briefs media on coming privacy decision

    Today on the Hill: Supreme Court briefs media on coming privacy decision
    OTTAWA — A decision that could have a major impact on the digital privacy rights of Canadians comes down this week at the Supreme Court of Canada.

    Today on the Hill: Supreme Court briefs media on coming privacy decision

    Lawyers who challenged Nadon appointment to high court get only $5K in costs

    Lawyers who challenged Nadon appointment to high court get only $5K in costs
    OTTAWA — The lawyers who set out to challenge Marc Nadon's nomination to the Supreme Court of Canada have been rebuffed in a bid to recoup their costs.

    Lawyers who challenged Nadon appointment to high court get only $5K in costs

    One in seven people lived in low-income families in 2012: Statcan

    One in seven people lived in low-income families in 2012: Statcan
    OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says 13.8 per cent of the population lived in low-income households in 2012.

    One in seven people lived in low-income families in 2012: Statcan

    From dark concrete to glass: National Arts Centre to get major facelift

    From dark concrete to glass: National Arts Centre to get major facelift
    OTTAWA — Nearly 50 years after the National Arts Centre was opened to celebrate Canada's centennial, it will undergo a major facelift to mark the country's 150th birthday.

    From dark concrete to glass: National Arts Centre to get major facelift