Canada and India have appointed new high commissioners to each other’s countries, a move seen as a step toward repairing relations that soured last year after the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
Tensions spiked in 2023 when then–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in Nijjar’s murder, a claim New Delhi strongly rejected. The dispute led to the expulsion of several diplomats on both sides, leaving the high commissioner posts vacant.
Now, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ottawa is taking cautious steps to mend ties. On Thursday, Canada’s foreign ministry announced the appointment of Christopher Cooter as its new envoy to New Delhi. “This appointment reflects Canada’s step-by-step approach to re-engagement with India,” Foreign Minister Anita Anand said.
India has named Dinesh K. Patnaik as its new high commissioner to Ottawa, with officials saying he will assume his role soon.
The Nijjar case remains unresolved. Labeled a terrorist by India in 2020, Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in June 2023. Canada continues to probe what Trudeau once described as “credible allegations” of Indian government involvement, while India accuses Ottawa of sheltering separatists.
Despite political strains, ties between the two countries remain significant. Canada hosts the largest Sikh community outside Punjab, and India is a top source of foreign students, workers, and agricultural trade for Ottawa.
The diplomatic thaw comes as India faces new pressure from Washington, with U.S. President Donald Trump doubling tariffs on Indian goods just a day earlier — a development that could further reshape New Delhi’s global partnerships.
