EAM Jaishankar extends Canada Day greetings to FM Anita Anand
New Delhi, July 1
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday extended Canada Day greetings to Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand.
Jaishankar said he looked forward to deepening the bilateral ties between both countries.
In a post on X, he said, "Warm greetings to FM Anita Anand, the Government and people of Canada on the occasion of Canada Day. Look forward to deepening our bilateral ties."
Earlier on Tuesday, Canadian Embassy in India celebrated the occasion.
In a post on X, the Embassy said, "Canada Day countdown: High Commission staff celebrated Canada Day and reflected on the strong momentum in Canada-India relations as we look forward to more to come. Our offices in India will be closed tomorrow for Canada Day."
The government of Canada in its website states that Canada Day is a day to reflect on what it means to be Canadian, to share what makes them proud and to celebrate in their own way. This pride is reflected in as many ways as there are Canadians. Canada Day highlights the richness of their land, diversity, culture, contributions, but above all, the people. Since 1868, July 1 is an opportunity for Canadians from all communities to come together.
On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act (today known as the Constitution Act, 1867) created Canada. On June 20, 1868, Governor General Lord Monck signed a proclamation that requested all Queen's subjects across Canada to celebrate July 1. In 1879, a federal law makde July 1 a statutory holiday as the "anniversary of Confederation," which is later called "Dominion Day." On October 27, 1982, July 1, "Dominion Day" officially became Canada Day, the website stated.
Meanwhile, Canada is aggressively pivoting toward a deepened strategic and industrial defence partnership with India, anchored by a historic surge in Canadian military expenditure and a renewed era of bilateral stability.
Speaking to ANI, Canadian High Commissioner to India Chris Cooter on June 22, outlined a vision where Canada's rapidly expanding defence budget, set to climb toward 5% of GDP, will create unprecedented opportunities for collaborative ventures with the Indian defence and aerospace sectors.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Happy Canada Day to our Canadian friends! 🇨🇦 The mention of defence collaboration is interesting - India has a lot to offer in aerospace and defence manufacturing. If both sides handle the political sensitivities maturely, this could be a win-win for trade and security. Let's hope for real substance beyond the pleasantries.
Honestly, I'm cautiously optimistic. Canada has a huge Indian diaspora and strong people-to-people ties. But words need to match deeds - especially on issues like extradition of wanted individuals and cracking down on anti-India elements operating from Canadian soil. Let's see if this defence partnership talk leads to concrete projects.
As an Indian who has lived in Canada for 5 years, I appreciate the gesture. The Indian community here is thriving and contributes massively to both economies. However, the recent political rhetoric on both sides has been unhelpful. Let's focus on trade, education, and tech collaboration - that's where the real potential lies for both countries. 👏
Nice diplomatic move by Jaishankar ji. But I hope this isn't just photo-op diplomacy. Canada needs to show it values the relationship by taking concrete steps - like controlling the activities of pro-Khalistan groups that openly call for India's disintegration. Until then, such greetings feel hollow to many Indians back home.
Canada Day celebrations in India? That's nice. We have millions of Indians living in Canada who contribute to both nations. Let's hope the defence collaboration talk translates into real technology transfer and joint ventures. India's Make in India initiative could benefit from Canadian expertise in aerospace and defence electronics. Fingers crossed! 🤞
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.