Close X
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada Must Guard Against Terrorism: PM Harper

IANS, 24 Jun, 2015 12:56 PM
    Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism and so "continued vigilance is essential", Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said.
     
    Harper made the remarks on Tuesday while laying a wreath in the Hall of Honour to mark the "National day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism" observed to honour those killed in the 1985 Air India bombing.
     
    An Air India flight flying from Toronto to London crashed off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board. Most of the dead were Canadians of Indian origin. 
     
    Sikh extremists were blamed for the bombing.
     
    Harper said he cannot "help but cast his mind back to the Canadians who perished in Air India Flight 182 and in the World Trade Centre attacks... and to the many terrorist activities foiled by the vigilance of Canadian security agencies.
     
    "The recollections serve as a reminder that Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism and that continued vigilance is essential."
     
    Addressing a gathering in parliament building here, he said it was a terror attack that killed the 329 passengers and crew members aboard Air India. 
     
    "On this sombre anniversary, we stand in solidarity with the friends and families who lost loved ones in that heinous attack and honour those lost.
     
    "We were deeply moved by this solemn tribute as well as by our meeting the kin of the victims," he added.
     
    Among the kin of the victims present was Susheel Gupta, whose mother Ramvati died in the bombing. Gupta said he regretted that his children would not be able to meet their grandmother.
     
    Meanwhile, a memorial service in Ireland was attended by India's Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan and Canadian Minister of Justice Peter MacKay.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Ontario Woman Who Billed Hospital For Wait Time Declines Payment, Wants To See Change

    Ontario Woman Who Billed Hospital For Wait Time Declines Payment, Wants To See Change
    Money talks, but an Ontario woman who billed a hospital for making her wait an hour and a half for a one-minute procedure says actions speak even louder.

    Ontario Woman Who Billed Hospital For Wait Time Declines Payment, Wants To See Change

    Retired B.C. Teacher Accused In Child Porn Trial: I'm Not A Pervert

    Retired B.C. Teacher Accused In Child Porn Trial: I'm Not A Pervert
    Court has heard the 66-year-old’s downstairs neighbour uncovered binders of CDs containing child pornography in his ceiling while performing minor renovations in 2012.

    Retired B.C. Teacher Accused In Child Porn Trial: I'm Not A Pervert

    B.C. Judge Tells Jury To Drop One Of Four Terror Charges Against Couple

    Justice Catherine Bruce told jurors that due to legal reasons they will not be required to make a decision on count three of the indictment — knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity.

    B.C. Judge Tells Jury To Drop One Of Four Terror Charges Against Couple

    New Windsor-Detroit Bridge Named After Hockey Legend Gordie Howe

    WINDSOR, Ont. — A new bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit will be named after hockey legend Gordie Howe. Howe, who is now 87, was born in Floral, Sask., and came to be known as "Mr. Hockey."

    New Windsor-Detroit Bridge Named After Hockey Legend Gordie Howe

    Youth Representative Criticizes B.C. Government For Aboriginal Teen's Death

    Youth Representative Criticizes B.C. Government For Aboriginal Teen's Death
    An indifferent care system and persistent inaction by front-line workers led to the death of an aboriginal teenage girl in Vancouver, British Columbia's representative for children and youth has determined.

    Youth Representative Criticizes B.C. Government For Aboriginal Teen's Death

    Supreme Court Says It Won't Hear Appeal In Deadly B.C. Ferry Sinking

    Supreme Court Says It Won't Hear Appeal In Deadly B.C. Ferry Sinking
    The justices have dismissed Karl-Heinz Arthur Lilgert's request to appeal his convictions on two counts of criminal negligence causing death.

    Supreme Court Says It Won't Hear Appeal In Deadly B.C. Ferry Sinking