Friday, July 3, 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

    Former Liberal national director faces charge under federal Lobbying Act

    Former Liberal national director faces charge under federal Lobbying Act
    OTTAWA - The Mounties have charged the former national director of the federal Liberal party with running afoul of the Lobbying Act.

    Former Liberal national director faces charge under federal Lobbying Act

    Federal government falling further behind on emissions reductions, audit finds

    Federal government falling further behind on emissions reductions, audit finds
    OTTAWA - Canada is all but certain to miss its Copenhagen Accord target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, the country's environmental watchdog warned Tuesday.

    Federal government falling further behind on emissions reductions, audit finds

    Government refuses to reveal cost for splitting up Elections Canada

    Government refuses to reveal cost for splitting up Elections Canada
    OTTAWA - The Harper government is refusing to disclose how much it will cost taxpayers to separate the commissioner of elections from Elections Canada — a move Conservatives insisted upon even though electoral experts said it was unnecessary.

    Government refuses to reveal cost for splitting up Elections Canada

    Sarah Leung, Vancouver Mom, Convicted of Killing her Two Newborn Sons gets 5 Years in Jail

    Sarah Leung, Vancouver Mom, Convicted of Killing her Two Newborn Sons gets 5 Years in Jail
    A jury convicted Sarah Leung in April of two counts of infanticide for the deaths of her boys in April 2009 and March 2010.

    Sarah Leung, Vancouver Mom, Convicted of Killing her Two Newborn Sons gets 5 Years in Jail

    Canada lacks vision for managing shipping traffic growth in the Arctic: audit

    Canada lacks vision for managing shipping traffic growth in the Arctic: audit
    OTTAWA - Canada lacks an overall vision for dealing with an expected growth in marine traffic in the Arctic, with outdated maps and surveys, inadequate navigational aids and icebreaking services that are stretched to the limit, the federal environment commissioner warned Tuesday.

    Canada lacks vision for managing shipping traffic growth in the Arctic: audit

    Canada sends Hercules aircraft to deliver protective equipment to Ebola zone

    Canada sends Hercules aircraft to deliver protective equipment to Ebola zone
    TORONTO - Canada has sent a Hercules aircraft to West Africa to deliver protective medical equipment the World Health Organization badly needs there.

    Canada sends Hercules aircraft to deliver protective equipment to Ebola zone