Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Manoj Kumar
A diplomatic dispute between Canada and India over a Sikh leader's killing could impact their growing economic ties. India is a major source of foreign students in Canada, and Canadian pension funds have invested billions in Indian ventures, including renewable energy, infrastructure, and banks.
India and Canada established diplomatic ties in 1947. The bilateral relationship is deeply rooted in shared democratic values, multiculturalism, and strong people-to-people connections. Over the years, high-level visits between the two nations have further solidified their diplomatic ties.
India and Canada collaborate through various mechanisms, including annual foreign office consultations, strategic dialogue, joint working groups on counter-terrorism, science and technology, environment, and more. These forums facilitate comprehensive engagement and cooperation.
Bilateral trade between India and Canada surpassed the $5 billion-mark in 2011. Key Indian exports to Canada include medicines, garments, diamonds, petroleum oils, and more. In return, Canada exports items like pulses, fertilisers, newsprint, aviation equipment, and minerals to India.
Both countries have witnessed a notable increase in two-way direct investment. Canadian investors have ventured into India's banking, insurance, and financial services sectors, while Indian investments have targeted Canada's information technology, software, and natural resources sectors. Negotiations for a Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement are underway.
The Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has made significant investments in India, both in listed and unlisted companies. According to recent filings, these investments collectively amount to over Rs 1 lakh crore. Its investments range across private banks like Kotak Mahindra Bank to new-age tech firms like Zomato, Nykaa, Paytm.
Canada is home to a significant Indian diaspora, numbering over 962,000 people. The community is diverse, including Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and others. Several Indo-Canadian MPs actively participate in the Canadian government, holding important positions.
Educational cooperation between India and Canada includes the signing of MOUs and research collaborations. With over 300 MOUs in place between Indian and Canadian higher education institutions, the relationship extends to collaborative research and student exchange programs. India is the second-largest source of foreign students in Canada.
The count of Indian students in Canada on valid study visas has seen significant growth: 1,71,505 in 2018, 2,18,540 in 2019, 1,79,510 in 2020, 2,16,500 in 2021, and a remarkable 3,19,000 in 2022, reported Times of India in March 2021.
The Sikh population in Canada began to increase after 1991, and the most recent 2021 census reported their number at 771,000, constituting 2.1 per cent of the total Canadian population. Among these 771,000 Sikhs, approximately 236,000 (30%) were Canadian citizens by birth, around 415,000 were immigrants with permanent resident status, and more than 119,000 were non-permanent residents, as indicated by Statistics Canada's 2021 census data.
Canada had 33,535 permanent Sikh residents before 1980, and an additional 40,440 obtained permanent resident status between 1980 and 1990. Notably, 88,210 Sikhs became permanent residents from 1991 to 2000, followed by over 111,000 in the period of 2001-2010 and more than 141,000 in the years from 2011 to 2021. Examining the data from the past decade, it's evident that an average of 11,750 immigrants, which constitutes about 4% of the annual total, were Sikhs, reported Times of India on Wednesday.