Thursday, July 2, 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

    Canadian-made Ebola vaccine to start clinical trials in healthy humans

    Canadian-made Ebola vaccine to start clinical trials in healthy humans
    TORONTO - Human testing of an experimental Canadian-made Ebola vaccine began Monday, with federal officials saying the drug could be shipped to West Africa within months if it proves successful. 

    Canadian-made Ebola vaccine to start clinical trials in healthy humans

    Study Finds Birth Control Pill Has Negative Effects On Lake Ecosystems

    Study Finds Birth Control Pill Has Negative Effects On Lake Ecosystems
    HALIFAX - The lead researcher of a new study is calling for improvements to some of Canada's waste water treatment facilities after finding that introducing the birth control pill in waterways created a chain reaction in a lake ecosystem that nearly wiped out a freshwater fish.

    Study Finds Birth Control Pill Has Negative Effects On Lake Ecosystems

    Space-squeezed Border Agency Pondered Putting Immigrants In Federal Prisons

    Space-squeezed Border Agency Pondered Putting Immigrants In Federal Prisons
    OTTAWA - Canada's border agency pursued the idea of putting immigrant detainees in federal prison despite concerns about locking up newcomers with violent offenders.

    Space-squeezed Border Agency Pondered Putting Immigrants In Federal Prisons

    Finger-pointing on as inquiry into deadly Algo Centre shopping mall collapse concludes

    Finger-pointing on as inquiry into deadly Algo Centre shopping mall collapse concludes
    When Commissioner Paul Belanger reports this week on the deadly collapse of a mall in northern Ontario, he and his team will have spent months sorting through numerous claims, counterclaims and finger-pointing as to who was to blame for the tragedy.

    Finger-pointing on as inquiry into deadly Algo Centre shopping mall collapse concludes

    'Seems pretty normal': Slocan, B.C. celebrates Thanksgiving as manhunt continues

    'Seems pretty normal': Slocan, B.C. celebrates Thanksgiving as manhunt continues
    SLOCAN CITY, B.C. - Residents of the tiny southern B.C. village that was locked down after a man allegedly shot at police say things are getting back to normal, even though the suspect remains at large.

    'Seems pretty normal': Slocan, B.C. celebrates Thanksgiving as manhunt continues

    Fire Knocks Out Power In Downtown Calgary; Restoration Could Take A Week

    Fire Knocks Out Power In Downtown Calgary; Restoration Could Take A Week
    CALGARY - Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi says it will not be business as usual in the city's downtown on Tuesday following a fire in an underground vault that's knocked out power for thousands of customers.

    Fire Knocks Out Power In Downtown Calgary; Restoration Could Take A Week