'While Indian students contribute significantly to Canada's economy, they do not receive commensurate benefits or facilities.'
India-Canada Relations: The repercussions from the Hardeep Singh Nijjar case are extending beyond the activities of Khalistani elements and are now affecting broader India-Canada relations. India has demanded transparency in the Canadian visa process for Indian students and a halt to what it describes as "unnecessary harassment" of visa applicants.
Additionally, there has been strong criticism regarding the increase in customs duties on Indian goods imported into Canada. According to an agency report, during the 12th Trade Review Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Zurich, Indian representatives pointed out that while Indian students contribute significantly to Canada's economy, they do not receive commensurate benefits or facilities.
The visa process for students, they argued, is slow and lacks transparency, with an apparent intention to cause hardship. Indian representatives shared that currently, there are 1.84 lakh (184,000) Indian students in Canada. While Canada is a popular destination for Indian students after the US, they face delays in visa issuance while individuals with dubious backgrounds reportedly receive visas more quickly.
Furthermore, illegal immigration of Indian 'students' into the US through Canada is on the rise, suggesting either biases in the Canadian visa system or collusion between visa officials and unscrupulous travel agents exploiting loopholes.
The Indian delegation dismissed Canada's claim that the recent expulsion of about 30 Canadian diplomatic officers from India has negatively impacted visa processing. An Indian official countered, stating that if India can issue 10,000 to 12,000 visas monthly in Canada, the Canadian authorities should be able to do the same.
India also raised concerns about the high import duties imposed by Canada on textiles, knitwear, jewelry, leather, and footwear, which reach up to 22%. Indian officials argued that this violates WTO rules, as such tariffs are meant to protect domestic industries threatened by cheap imports, which is not the case for Canadian industries concerning Indian products.
India is Canada's 10th largest trading partner, with trade between the two countries amounting to $9.36 billion in 2023, and projected to surpass $10 billion this year. Indian importers expect fair treatment in light of these trade relations.
The Indian government has increased pressure on Canada at a time when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is facing political challenges. The New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Jagmeet Singh, has withdrawn support from Trudeau, leaving the government vulnerable.
Despite these tensions, both countries should take care to ensure that diplomatic strains do not adversely affect their citizens. It is in the best interest of India and Canada to move past recent conflicts for the greater good.
