Sask. government accusing Ottawa of not informing province of claims against key trade partner
Kelly Geraldine Malone | The Canadian Press | Posted: September 20, 2023 4:29 PM | Last Updated: September 20, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India government's played a role in the killing of a Canadian citizen
The Saskatchewan government says it has not been contacted by Ottawa about security concerns with a key trade partner after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations that India's government played a role in the killing of a Canadian citizen.
Trudeau said in the House of Commons on Monday that Canadian intelligence services are investigating credible information about a potential link between India's government and the death of British Columbia Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Saskatchewan Trade Minister Jeremy Harrison said the claims against the Indian government are very serious and, if proven, must be taken seriously.
But Harrison also said provinces and territories should have been notified if that was the reason trade negotiations with India were suspended.
Harrison criticized Trudeau's handling of the G20 summit in India earlier this month, where Canada paused negotiations for a new trade deal following frosty relations with counterparts in New Delhi.
In a letter to Ottawa released last week, Harrison accused the federal government of picking a fight with an important trade market for domestic political gain.
He added that Saskatchewan deserves regular updates on negotiations.
India significant trade partner for Sask.
Saskatchewan's exports to India are worth more than $1 billion to the provincial economy and make up roughly a third of Canada's total exports to the South Asian country. Saskatchewan also has a trade and investment office in New Delhi.
"Does Trudeau even understand the damage he is doing to our trade relationship with India — one of our most important trading partners?" Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe posted on social media last week.
Harrison said Tuesday that the federal government repeatedly said the pause was to make sure Canadians get the best deal in the trade agreement.
"If [the investigation] was the reason trade negotiations were suspended, the federal government should have made that information available to provinces and territories and had numerous opportunities to do so," Harrison said.
Trudeau said Tuesday that he waited until he was able to raise the issue with allies and with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit before telling the public about the possible link.
"We wanted to make sure we were taking the time to talk with our allies, to share what we knew. We wanted to make sure that we fully shared with the government of India, the seriousness and the depths of our preoccupations and indeed conclusions," Trudeau said.
The United States, United Kingdom and Australia have all issued statements calling for the allegations to be investigated.
India rejects Trudeau's accusations
India's Ministry of External Affairs said Tuesday that it rejects the accusations, arguing they are meant to distract from Sikh separatists in Canada who New Delhi argues pose a security risk.
Nijjar was shot outside his gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., on June 18. In the wake of his death, members of the Sikh community accused the Indian government of being involved in the killing and attempting to silence voices advocating for an independent Sikh country.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also criticized Trudeau on Tuesday for not sharing more details with him than what was said in the House of Commons.
Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said he hopes Canada can maintain normal relations with India.
Watch| Sask. government accuses Trudeau of keeping provinces in the dark about trade talks with India:
Harrison said Saskatchewan, as well as other provinces and territories, should be kept informed about the situation and how it could affect trade relationships.
"I am hopeful that the federal government will have had rock-solid facts and evidence to back allegations of such a serious and far-reaching nature," he said.
"If they have such information, they have not shared it with the government of Saskatchewan."