Monday, June 29, 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

    Mourners pay respect to soldier gunned down in Ottawa

    Mourners pay respect to soldier gunned down in Ottawa
    HAMILTON - Mourners wishing to pay tribute to the soldier killed at the National War Memorial in Ottawa will have a chance to express their grief today at a public visitation in his hometown.

    Mourners pay respect to soldier gunned down in Ottawa

    Ontario heads to the polls in municipal elections that could extend Ford reign

    Ontario heads to the polls in municipal elections that could extend Ford reign
    TORONTO - It's municipal voting day in Ontario.

    Ontario heads to the polls in municipal elections that could extend Ford reign

    Shootout In Ottawa: Surrey MP Nina Grewal's First Person Account

    Shootout In Ottawa: Surrey MP Nina Grewal's First Person Account
    When Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was speaking at about 9.30 a.m. Wednesday in a caucus room of parliament, we heard a couple of shots. We were not alarmed as we thought some construction work was going on.

    Shootout In Ottawa: Surrey MP Nina Grewal's First Person Account

    Jason Kenney, Muslim Group Say More Needs To Be Done To Stop Radicalization

    Jason Kenney, Muslim Group Say More Needs To Be Done To Stop Radicalization
    BURNABY, B.C. - The association representing a mosque that ejected the gunman who killed a soldier in Ottawa says people who commit such acts have no religion and no country.

    Jason Kenney, Muslim Group Say More Needs To Be Done To Stop Radicalization

    Edmonton Man Dies In Highway 63 Crash

    Edmonton Man Dies In Highway 63 Crash
    WANDERING RIVER, Alta. - An 18-year-old man is dead after his SUV collided head-on with a semi truck in a crash that forced the closure of the main highway between Edmonton and the oilsands region.

    Edmonton Man Dies In Highway 63 Crash

    PM Stephen Harper Helps Redblacks Fans Remember Victims

    PM Stephen Harper Helps Redblacks Fans Remember Victims
    OTTAWA - Stephen Harper sang "O Canada" with thousands of football fans tonight during a pre-game ceremony in Ottawa to honour two Canadian soldiers killed in domestic attacks over the past week.

    PM Stephen Harper Helps Redblacks Fans Remember Victims