Canada has retrenched dozens of Indian staffers from its diplomatic missions in India apparently because of the reduction of Canadian staff available to “effectively manage and maintain in-country operations”. India had last year expelled 41 Canadian diplomats to ensure parity in diplomatic presence, following which Canada had shut in-person operations in its Mumbai, Chandigarh and Bengaluru consulates.
There was no official word on the number of employees retrenched but it doesn’t apparently exceed 100. Confirming the “staff reductions”, a media relations official in the high commission said the decision was sadly necessary given the departure of Canadian staff last year.
“We wish to express our sincere gratitude for the resilience, dedication and service of our local staff in India. Canada will continue to deliver core services to its citizens in India, including consular support and for trade and business development, so that the citizens of our two countries can continue to benefit from the longstanding ties between Canadians and Indians,” said the official, adding that Canada’s visa application centres in India are operating “as normal”.
Despite the strained ties, Canada has maintained it has strong connections with Indian citizens, and will continue to welcome them. India had not expected Canada to shut its services in the consulates as its decision to expel diplomats was meant only to seek parity in diplomatic representations only in the respective high commissions in Delhi and Ottawa.
India had expelled the diplomats after a spat with Canada that resulted from prime minister Trudeau’s allegation that Indian govt officials were involved in the murder of Khalistani radical Hardeep Nijjar in the Vancouver area. Indian govt accused the diplomats of interfering in its internal affairs.
Trudeau raised the Nijjar issue again last week, while testifying before a committee that is probing allegations of foreign interference in Canadian election, saying his govt remains committed to protecting the freedoms of Canadians.
