Wednesday, June 24, 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

    'Nude' Judge Seeks Stay Of Sex Photos As Evidence In Disciplinary Hearing

    'Nude' Judge Seeks Stay Of Sex Photos As Evidence In Disciplinary Hearing
    TORONTO — A senior Manitoba judge is asking Federal Court to block a disciplinary committee from viewing graphic sexual photographs her husband took of her.

    'Nude' Judge Seeks Stay Of Sex Photos As Evidence In Disciplinary Hearing

    Canadian students among most computer literate, international test shows

    Canadian students among most computer literate, international test shows
    TORONTO — Students in two Canadian provinces proved more computer literate than the international average in a new test meant to help educators and policy-makers understand how integrating technology in schools affects children's skills.

    Canadian students among most computer literate, international test shows

    How the U.S. Senate got its famous filibuster rule that frustrated Keystone

    How the U.S. Senate got its famous filibuster rule that frustrated Keystone
    WASHINGTON — Proponents of Canada's Keystone XL pipeline might be scratching their heads raw this week wondering how they got 59 per cent support in a U.S. congressional vote and still didn't get a pipeline law.

    How the U.S. Senate got its famous filibuster rule that frustrated Keystone

    Three injured in US varsity shooting, gunman dead

    Three injured in US varsity shooting, gunman dead
    A gunman wounded at least three people in a shooting in the library of Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee before police shot him dead, authorities said Thursday....

    Three injured in US varsity shooting, gunman dead

    Outgoing Toronto mayor to sell off remaining 'Robbie Bobbie' bobble heads

    Outgoing Toronto mayor to sell off remaining 'Robbie Bobbie' bobble heads
    TORONTO — Outgoing Toronto Mayor Rob Ford will be selling off the rest of his "Robbie Bobbie" bobble heads on Friday.

    Outgoing Toronto mayor to sell off remaining 'Robbie Bobbie' bobble heads

    Michael Sona, convicted in robocalls scandal, gets 9 months in jail

    Michael Sona, convicted in robocalls scandal, gets 9 months in jail
    GUELPH, Ont. — Interfering with a citizen's right to vote merits real jail time, an Ontario judge declared Wednesday as he made Michael Sona the first person ever to spend time behind bars for violating the Canada Elections Act.

    Michael Sona, convicted in robocalls scandal, gets 9 months in jail