Indo-Canadian relations

Indo-Canadian relations, are the longstanding bilateral relations between India and Canada, which are built upon a "mutual commitment to democracy", "pluralism", and "people-to-people links," according to the government of Canada. [cite web |url=http://geo.international.gc.ca/asia/new-delhi/geo/india-bb-en.aspx |title=Canada–India Relations |date=2008-06-04 |publisher=Government of Canada |accessdate=2008-06-11] In 2004, bilateral trade between India and Canada was at about C$2.45 billion. [cite web |url=http://business.mapsofindia.com/trade-relations/india-canada/ |title=India Canada Trade Relations |publisher=Maps of India |accessdate=2008-06-11] However, India's Smiling Buddha nuclear test led to connections between the two countries being frozen, with allegations that India broke the terms of the Colombo Plan.cite web |url=http://www.ficci.com/international/countries/canada/canada-commercialrelations.htm |title=India-Canada Trade & Economic Relations |publisher=FICCI |accessdate=2008-06-11] Although Jean Chrétien and Roméo LeBlanc both visited India in the late 1990s, relations were again halted after the Pokhran-II tests.

History

In the 1950s and 1960s Canada-India relations were enhanced because of the personal ties which developed between Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and two Canadian Prime Ministers who served during those years: Louis St. Laurent and Lester B. Pearson. At the United Nations and in the Commonwealth, on issues as diverse as the Korean War armistice and the Suez Crisis, there was a convergence of interest and commitment between India and Canada. Canada's aid program to India began in 1951 and grew substantially under the Colombo Plan. Canada provided food aid, project financing and technical assistance to India. In the past five decades India has been one the largest recipients of Canadian bilateral aid, amounting to over $ 3.8 billion Canadian dollars.

Indo-Canadian relations deteriorated in the wake of India's Smiling Buddha nuclear test of May 1974. The Canadian government was stung by allegations that the fissionable material used to construct India's first nuclear device had been obtained from the Canadian-supplied CIRUS nuclear research reactor. Canada severed bilateral nuclear cooperation with both India and Pakistan in 1976. Thereafter Canada resolved to engage in nuclear cooperation only with countries which signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and which instituted full-scope safeguards on their nuclear energy programmes under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In the 1990's a chance to improve Indo-Canadian relations arose when India instituted major reforms of its economy. India went through a large economic transformation, which attracted the attention of the Canadian government and the business community. Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien paid a diplomatic mission to India in January 1996 with two cabinet ministers and 300 business persons. India's External Affairs Minister Inder K. Gujral paid an official visit to Canada in September 1996. Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy reciprocated with a visit to India in January 1997 during which he inaugurated the Office of the Canadian High Commission in Chandigarh, capital of Punjab and Haryana states. The Canada-India Working Group on Counter- Terrorism was also established in 1997, bringing together on a annual basis several departments and agencies of the Canadian and Indian governments. Former Governor General Roméo Leblanc undertook a visit to India in March 1998.

References