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 Economy adds 74,100 jobs in September, drops unemployment rate to 6.8 per cent

    Canadian Economy adds 74,100 jobs in September, drops unemployment rate to 6.8 per cent
    OTTAWA - The latest Canadian labour report suggests the job market bounced back in a big way last month, generating 74,100 net new positions and knocking the unemployment rate down to its lowest level in nearly six years.

    Canadian Economy adds 74,100 jobs in September, drops unemployment rate to 6.8 per cent

    Canada Weighs Impact Of Plunging Oil Prices

    Canada Weighs Impact Of Plunging Oil Prices
    WASHINGTON - Canadian policy-makers are trying to gauge the wide-ranging effect of plunging oil prices —whose impact on the national economy could be felt everywhere from the loonie, to imports and exports, government revenues and consumer spending.

    Canada Weighs Impact Of Plunging Oil Prices

    Ethics commissoner investigates Pierre Karl Peladeau

    Ethics commissoner investigates Pierre Karl Peladeau
    QUEBEC - Quebec's ethics commissioner will hold an inquiry into allegations that potential Parti Quebecois leadership candidate Pierre Karl Peladeau intervened politically on the question of the future of a Montreal movie studio on which his Quebecor media company was bidding.

    Ethics commissoner investigates Pierre Karl Peladeau

    Manitoba receives first Canada jobs grant

    Manitoba receives first Canada jobs grant
    WINNIPEG - Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the first grant under the contentious Canada Jobs Grant program is going to a Winnipeg company.

    Manitoba receives first Canada jobs grant

    Canada withdraws from World Health Organization meeting because it's in Moscow

    Canada withdraws from World Health Organization meeting because it's in Moscow
    OTTAWA - Canada is boycotting a meeting of the World Health Organization on tobacco control next week because it's being held in Moscow.

    Canada withdraws from World Health Organization meeting because it's in Moscow

    Canadians in West Africa should leave

    Canadians in West Africa should leave
    EDMONTON - The federal government wants Canadians who live in three countries in West Africa where the Ebola virus is raging to consider leaving now.

    Canadians in West Africa should leave