Volume 18 Issue #11 November 2025 | | Canadians Feel Unsafe and Unsure | | |
Hello friends,
Is our beloved Canada under attack? At first glance, this question may seem provocative. But perhaps the real danger is not asking it early enough. And no - I am not referring to threats from our southern neighbour. Though the ongoing tariff war is viewed by many in Canada as an attack on our sovereignty and economic future, I feel that will only make us resilient long term. And to this threat -Canada has responded with unprecedented resolve. The latest federal budget makes it clear that we will not only endure difficult periods - even if sacrifices are required - but also build a diversified, self-reliant economy that cannot be held hostage in the future. We face some tough times ahead, but that’s the only path we have. Every country in the world has realised the dangers of weaponization of trade, commerce and currency. The only hedge is a strong self-reliant economy. And our current leadership understands that.
But here the threat I speak of is not external. It is a rising challenge from within. And it has not happened overnight. And it may not even be intentional. We as Canadians have just let it happen with our own complacency and leaving it open for these elements to slowly take control of things.
For decades, Canada has been a safe and welcoming home for people from around the world. We are all beneficiaries of that openness. Our multicultural fabric allowed communities to thrive together, contribute to Canada’s prosperity, and strengthen the country we proudly call home.
But for the first time in generations, we are witnessing a visible and invisible rise in anti-immigrant sentiment - including against Indo-Canadians. This is part of a global wave seen in the UK, Europe, the U.S., and Australia. This is the result of gross misuse and abuse of generous immigration policies by a few and not enough focus on setting expectations to put Canada First from those who have just come to use and abuse Canada’s generosity for their own foreign agendas.
Some of the negativity directed toward Indo-Canadians, visible on social media, is deeply troubling. What exactly did the broader community do to deserve such skepticism? Or is this the result of years of deliberate efforts by extremist elements intent on dividing the Indo-Canadian diaspora from within? We have seen their aggressive posturing and violence on streets. It is clear they don’t care about laws or future of Canada. They bring disrepute to not just all immigrant communities, but also Canada as a country as many of them are now Canadian citizens.
During the Cold War, India was seen through the lens of ideological rivalry. After economic reforms and globalization, India became a valuable partner to the Western world. But a decade ago, India elected a new and assertive leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi - a reality many “old power brokers” did not anticipate. Since then, sections of the Western press have chosen to paint India in harsh tones, ignoring the fact that India’s vibrant democracy, not authoritarianism, brought this government to power - and continues to strengthen it through repeated elections. This is not an endorsement of India’s ruling party, but as a person of Indian origin and visit the country often, I can say with lot of responsibility that India is trying as hard as it can for inclusive growth and prosperity with a vision of taking the whole humanity along. The world today needs inclusive world order, not world dominated by a few.
While media narratives hardened, a small but loud group in Canada - long associated with anti-India activism - became hyper-active. They benefited from political indulgence and misguided strategies designed to appease fringe actors for electoral gains. That permissiveness is now backfiring. For the first time, the reckless actions of a few are leading to suspicion of an entire community. That is unacceptable.
As the newly appointed High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik expressed in a recent interaction with CIF - wherever Indians have migrated, they have worked hard, built families, enriched their host countries, and became valued citizens. Indian immigrants, worldwide, are known for their discipline, productivity, and loyalty to their adopted homelands. Why then, in Canada of all places, are we facing a narrative that contradicts the lived experience of millions of Indian immigrants? (Read more)
| | Indian HC Patnaik Exudes Confidence on the Future of Canada India Bilateral | | |
Toronto, November 4, 2025: Canada India Foundation hosted an exclusive reception in honour of India’s High Commissioner in Canada, His Excellency Dinesh Kumar Patnaik on 4 November 2025. Acknowledging that it was his first major Indo Canadian community engagement, Mr. Patnaik, was open, friendly and very optimistic in his interactions with the members and guests.
Welcoming the HC, Pankaj Dave, National Convener, CIF, noted, “In one way, the current relationship between Canada and India is a bit like old friends meeting again after a period of distrust and suspicion. It is normal to expect certain reluctance, to hold back, before a full hug. But we are glad that there are in place serious and committed leadership in both capitals, paying close attention to the challenges ahead. We appreciate your role in taking our ties forward during this crucial time and you can always count on the support of Canada India Foundation in achieving this objective...”
Mohamed Firin, MPP, York South – Weston, who was a special guest said that Ontario and India shared common democratic values, besides a robust economic partnership. “Ontario is always ready to partner with India for the benefit of our people,” he added. Also present at the event were Deepak Anand, MPP for Mississauga Malton and Sheref Sabawy, MPP for Mississauga Erin Mills.
Dinesh Patnaik sportingly took part in a very entertaining and informative fireside chat anchored by Ritesh Malik, Chair, CIF. Patnaik began by saying how India views Canada as a very important country and “perhaps, you have the highest percentage of Indians per capita anywhere in the diaspora!” “It is a G7 country, has a lot of natural resources that we require. You name it only after coming here I realized how foundational the relationship is. You name any field and there are Indo Canadians in very important roles. This relationship is special and needs to be honoured.” (Read more)
| | Foreign Ministers of Canada and India Affirm Mutual Commitment at Niagara G7 Meet | | Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Anita Anand and India’s Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar met at the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting held in Niagara. The Ministers expressed hope and enthusiasm for the dialogue to continue, and future discussions will include important areas of mutual interest like critical minerals and security. The two Ministers agreed to remain in touch as the two countries continue to implement the Canada-India road map. (Read more.) | | Canada’s Trade Minister, Sidhu, in India | | |
Canada’s Minister of International Trade was in India this week, following up on the recent breakthrough and Canada’s new priorities to reach out and develop bigger market access to India, the fourth biggest economy today. Sidhu’s visit aims to expand cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, clean technology, digital industries, and agriculture. (Read more.)
| | Canada Budget Provision to Attract Renowned Scientists | | |
Canada is putting its money where its slogan has always been – attract the best and finest - at last. The budget presented by the Carney government sets aside $1.7 billion to support research locally and to bring some of the most eminent scientists to chair projects in Canada. The budgetary support will help Canadian researchers to lead globally in groundbreaking innovations to maintain competitiveness. (Read more.)
| | Film on Indo Canadian Single Mother’s Search for Roots | | |
In the days of stars-dominated puff and huff films from Bollywood, comes a refreshing take on the diaspora experience. Calorie, directed by the Indo-Canadian filmmaker, Eisha Marjara and featuring Anupam Kher, is scheduled to be premiered at Cinema of the World section at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which will be held from November 20 to 28, 2025, in Goa. The story brings alive the challenges faced by a single mother who decides to send her two reluctant daughters growing up in Canada to India to reconnect with their Punjabi roots. (Read more.)
| | Indo Canadian Businessman Shot Dead in Targeted Killing | | |
In yet another case of the continuing law and order issues plaguing the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, a popular Indo Canadian businessman was shot dead, in what the police is characterising as a targeted shooting. Darshan Singh Sahsi, 68, was found inside his car with life threatening injuries and later succumbed. (Read more.)
| | Andhra Pradesh Rolls Out Plans to Rival Hyderabad and Bengaluru | | |
The Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is rolling out an ambitious plan of development with the aim of turning its capital city, Amravati, into a beacon for a new generation of tech companies. Andhra Pradesh, under N. Chandrababu Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh, is aggressively pursuing industrial development, aiming to replicate Hyderabad's tech success with Amaravati. The state is unveiling massive investment proposals in advanced manufacturing, green energy, and semiconductors. (Read more.)
| | IIT Madras Reports a World’s First in Vertical Take off and Landing Tech | | |
The Indian Institute of Madras continues to make giant leaps in critical areas of technology, especially in aerospace and defence. A recent breakthrough achieved by a small team of scientists and engineers have been hailed by the tech community as revolutionary. Researchers at IIT Madras have created a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with hybrid rocket thrusters. "Once the VTOL system reaches the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for commercial application, it will be a game-changer in both civil and military aviation. VTOL will help to decentralise air transport to multiple locations rather than a single big airport or an airbase," said PA Ramakrishna, professor at the Department of Aerospace Engineering. (Read more.)
| | Indian Passport Jumps Eight Spots in Latest Ranking | | |
Singapore with 193 countries offering visa free entries to its citizens is the world’s most popular passport, according to the Henley Passport Index published biannually. Europe dominates the Index, with six out of the top ten positions held by European countries. India recorded the most significant jump in the latest rankings, climbing eight spots to 77th place — despite adding just two new destinations to its visa-free list, now at 59. (Read more.)
| | India Planning to Be a Reliable Supplier of Critical Minerals | | |
India, home to about 6% of the world’s rare earth reserves, is positioning itself as a potential alternative supplier. Although its current production accounts for less than 1% globally, states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat hold significant promise for the future. Though China is the dominant supplier, producing around 70% of rare earths and refining 90%, India is expected to reshape the balance with countries like the US and Australia seeking diversification. (Read more.)
| | A World’s First in Robotic Surgery in Cardiac Care | | The Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, headquartered in Bengaluru, became the world’s first institution to offer robotic surgery in the super specialty area of cardiac care and the procedure is free to the patient. | | India Placed 9th in Total Forest Cover | | |
India continues to report encouraging results in its ambitious plan to increase forest cover. The most recent survey of the world’s forest cover places India at the 9th spot in total forest area. Even more significantly, India earned the third place in total gain which shows its reforestation efforts are paying off. (Read more.)
| | Nobel Laureate Calls on Japan to Emulate India in R&D | | |
India has seen rapid advancement in the Global Innovation Index (GII) in the past decade, and its ranking rose from 91st in 2014 to 38th in 2025, leaving the world surprised and taking note of its rising stature. “Japan should learn from India on the rapid advancement in the field of R&D,” said Kajita while participating in the International Conference on ‘India – Japan Next Generation Science and Technology partnership recently. (Read more.)
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Nick Ierfino
Nick Ierfino is the founder of I&A Professional Corporation and served as its managing partner for over 30 years. Nick’s impressive career has been marked by successes in the fields of taxation, succession planning, and business advisory. He specialized in private enterprise consulting across many industries — particularly the construction industry — and in developing corporate and personal tax planning strategies. (Read More)
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Sim Gakhar
Sim Gakhar is the Founder and CEO of SG Wealth Management, based in the Greater Toronto Area. She works exclusively with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth business owners, professionals, and multi-generational families – helping them reduce taxes, protect their families, and build enduring wealth through advanced planning and insurance-based strategies. (Read More)
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Hariharan Raghavan
Hariharan Raghavan is a seasoned finance and business leader with over 35 years of international experience across multiple industries. A Chartered Accountant (CA) from India, he also holds professional designations as a CGA, CA, and CPA in Canada, and CPA & CISA in the United States. Currently he is Partner & CFO, at Macrodyne Technologies, Canada — a $200 million engineering group with operations in Canada, USA, and Europe. (Read More)
| | CIF Urges Community Members to Donate Blood | | |
Canada India Foundation continued its efforts to help create awareness in the community to donate to the Canadian Blood Services. Blood is always a critical element in healthcare with the power to save lives. CIF is encouraging members of the Indo Canadian community to be proactive and help in this crucial program.
Click here to join today
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Pankaj Dave
National Convener
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Sanjay Makkar
Co-convener
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Canada India Foundation
5160 Explorer Drive, Unit #1
Mississauga, ON L4W 4T7 Ph: 905-602-1001
E-mail: info@canadaindiafoundation.com
www.canadaindiafoundation.com
| | Disclaimer: This monthly e-newsletter is produced by the Canada India Foundation (CIF), a registered not-for-profit organisation with an aim to provide meaningful communication between its own board of governors and with a larger audience of policy makers and industry leaders. Views expressed by writers are their own and the CIF does not necessarily agree with them. We do not claim to provide any advice on any subject. Similarly, we are not liable for any misrepresentation or misleading claims made by an advertiser. Content provided in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. | | | | |
