Mark Carney's India trip suggests Canada is moving to restore ties

Mark Carney is travelling to India to promote trade amid lingering suspicion about links between India's government and violence in Canada. A recent survey for the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada found Canadians favour restoring relations with India by 51% to 22%.

Mark Carney has travelled to India with a public focus on promoting trade, at a time when some observers still raise concerns about alleged links between India's government and violent acts in Canada. Commentators compare this visit to Carney's recent trips to China and Gulf states, and say he is prioritizing market opportunities over other diplomatic concerns. The column argues that Canadian public opinion has shifted toward restoring ties with India after a period of strained relations. The piece frames Carney's itinerary — focused on trade and avoiding visits to Sikh holy sites — as a deliberate course correction. Key facts: - Mark Carney is visiting India to promote trade and his trip has been organized with a strict focus on economic engagement, according to the column. - A survey for the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada reported that 51% of Canadians favour restoring relations with India, while 22% oppose it. - The article recalls that in 2023 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India's government of involvement in the killing of a Canadian, and that earlier events and gestures contributed to tensions between the two countries. - The columnist argues that previous Canadian actions, including political outreach to Sikh communities and moments during a 2018 visit, helped fuel Indian suspicions and complicated relations. Summary: The columnist presents Carney's trade-focused visit as a deliberate effort to repair and deepen economic ties after a period of strained Canada-India relations. The piece argues public opinion in Canada has shifted in favour of restored engagement, and that Carney's approach is intended as a course correction; the broader diplomatic and policy outcomes are undetermined at this time.