
National Security Conference in Canada calls for stronger action to counter radical forces
Held at the Paramount EventSpace in Woodbridge, Ontario, the conference brought together prominent voices from across Canada to deliberate on the growing threats posed by extremist ideologies, foreign interference, and their impact on Canada's domestic security.
The conference addressed a harsh and sobering reality: Canada's multicultural democracy is increasingly being manipulated by radical elements that import divisive agendas from overseas. The event featured discussions around historical failures like the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing, the rise of foreign-funded extremist groups, and the urgent need for a coordinated national response to counter radicalisation, misinformation, and transnational crime.
'The idea behind this conference is not to single out any individual or community,' said Ritesh Malik, Chairperson of Canada India Foundation and chief organiser of the event. 'This conference is for Canada to preserve Canada. We came to this country for its peace and values, and we now see extremism threatening those very foundations. Our communities face daily threats. It's time policymakers, security agencies, and elected officials listen and take action.'
One of the major focal points of the conference was the 1985 Air India bombing—Canada's deadliest act of terrorism that claimed 329 lives, most of them Canadian citizens. Sanjay Lazar, an aviation expert and author who lost his entire family in the tragedy, made an emotional plea.
'This year marks the 40th anniversary of that bombing,' Lazar said. 'It wasn't just an attack on a flight; it was a direct assault on Canadian values. We're still waiting for a memorial learning centre and want this story to be integrated into the Canadian education system. We owe that to the victims and future generations.'
The conference's 'Human Cost of Terrorism' session explored how affected communities, particularly Indo-Canadians and Jewish Canadians, continue to suffer the consequences of extremism through hate crimes, threats, and targeted violence.
'There was a recent attack on a school—spraying bullets at children. The perpetrators are still at large,' one speaker noted. 'Is this failure of intelligence or dangerous apathy?'
The event also examined modern-day threats ranging from Islamist networks and Khalistani separatists to far-left radicals and foreign intelligence-linked agents operating in Canada under the guise of human rights activism.
Danial Bordman, a Canadian journalist, did not mince words: 'We are dealing with Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, Khalistanis, and radical far-left elements. It's alarming that these forces continue to operate openly while policy remains paralysed. But I also see the best people here today—and I hope this conference yields action.'
Wyatt Claypool, another Canadian journalist, echoed the need for a principled foreign policy and stronger national resolve. 'Canada has become the country that often backstabs its allies. Whether it's India or Israel, we take the wrong side. We talk like second-year foreign policy students obsessed with de-escalation. We forget that sometimes there is a right and a wrong.'
He continued, 'The Liberals haven't taken this threat seriously. Under Stephen Harper, at least we had a direction. Now, it's chaos.'
Ujjal Dosanjh, former federal Health Minister and one of the most respected Indo-Canadian political voices, said, 'Today's meeting is probably the first in a long time to publicly address extremism in the Indo-Canadian community. Politicians have ignored this issue for far too long. What we see now is an intermingling of extremism, drug smuggling, and immigration fraud—creating serious problems for our society.'
Community participant Guneet Singh praised the inclusive nature of the event. 'This is a Canadian issue, not an Indian issue. Illegal immigration, extremism—these are problems affecting all of us. It's good that platforms like CIF are stepping up and bringing together people from across social, political, and digital spaces.'
Panellists also discussed the reluctance of mainstream media and public institutions to address these challenges openly. 'Extremists are posting threats online and waving AK-47s, and the RCMP remains silent,' a speaker noted. 'Hate is disguised as freedom of expression, and security agencies walk on eggshells.'
One section of the conference focused on Bill 63, legislation which panellists argue curtails freedom of expression for moderate voices, while shielding radical ones from criticism. 'Laws like this suppress open dialogue, which is essential to challenge extremism,' a speaker noted.
The conference's objective was not just to diagnose the problems but to push for solutions. Speakers advocated for better intelligence sharing, law enforcement empowerment, and reforms in immigration to weed out exploitation by radical elements. They also called on the media to abandon fear-based self-censorship and speak honestly about growing threats.
'We must protect the vast majority—the peaceful, gentle citizens of Canada,' a panellist urged. 'The Canadian Charter of Rights was never meant to shield violence or extremism. It must protect the innocent, not the dangerous.'
The conference concluded with a commitment to compiling a comprehensive report based on its findings, which will be submitted to Canadian lawmakers and security agencies.
'The time for silence is over,' said Ritesh Malik in closing remarks. 'Canada deserves to be what it was, what it should be, and what we want it to be for our children.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
"Working to get High Commissioners deployed in two capitals": MEA reiterates to normalise India-Canada ties
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reaffirmed its efforts to normalise India-Canada relations again, reiterating that both nations are working towards deploying High Commissioners in their respective capitals. During a press briefing on Thursday, Jaiswal highlighted the progress, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, held a discussion on the matter in Kananaskis on the sidelines of the G7 Summit last month. He further expressed optimism in the "movement" of India-Canada ties. "We had the meeting at the Prime Minister level in Kananaskis, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the importance of India-Canada ties and to rebuild these ties. We are working; both sides are now working towards it. We are also working to get High Commissioners deployed in the two capitals. We are positive about the movement in India-Canada ties," Jaiswal stated during the briefing. Last month, the MEA had stated that both nations are working to reinstate the High Commissioners to each other's capitals in an effort to normalise relations between New Delhi and Ottawa, which had sharply deteriorated last year. At a press briefing, Jaiswal said PM Modi and Carney had reaffirmed the importance of India-Canada ties during a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in Canada. He added that both sides agreed to take constructive steps to "restore stability" in the relationship. "We had issued a press release when we had the last meeting of PM Modi with Prime Minister Carney on the sidelines of the G7 in Kananaskis in Alberta. Both leaders then reaffirmed the importance of India-Canada ties based on shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Both sides agreed to take calibrated and constructive steps to restore stability in the relationship, beginning with the early return of high commissioners to each other's capitals," the MEA spokesperson said. Diplomatic tensions between the two nations flared up last year after the former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that his government had "credible allegations" of India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in 2023. India had strongly denied the charges, calling them "absurd" and "motivated". In response, India recalled six diplomats, including its High Commissioner to Canada, after they were labelled "persons of interest" by Canadian authorities investigating the killing. India also expelled six Canadian diplomats, including Canada's High Commissioner to India. Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. With Mark Carney now serving as the Canadian Prime Minister after Trudeau's resignation, both countries appear to be taking steps to improve ties. According to the MEA, India and Canada also agreed to resume senior and working-level mechanisms and discussions in various areas, including trade, people-to-people contact, connectivity and collaboration in key areas like cooperating on clean energy and technology initiatives, collaborating on digital infrastructure projects, exploring opportunities for cooperation in artificial intelligence and discussing potential collaboration on food security and critical minerals.


Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Times of Oman
Air India Plane Crash: International pilots' group cautions against "hasty conclusions" on preliminary probe report
Montreal: The International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) has issued a statement cautioning against hasty conclusions based on the preliminary report into the Air India 171 incident. The federation emphasised that preliminary reports are meant to disseminate factual data obtained during the early stages of an investigation and do not provide definitive answers. IFALPA highlighted that the preliminary report is not conclusive and should not be used for speculation or drawing premature conclusions. The federation noted that the report clearly states that no safety recommendations are being provided at this stage, and the investigation is ongoing. An official statement by IFALPA said on Monday, "IFALPA again cautions against hasty conclusions published by the media and social media based on this report. As a reminder, a Preliminary Report is merely the means of communication used for the prompt dissemination of data obtained during the early stages of the investigation and only contains factual information and an indication of the progress of the investigation. In accordance with the provisions of ICAO Annex 13, such Reports are published within thirty days of the occurrence." IFALPA is concerned about the potential for media and social media speculation based on the preliminary report, which could be detrimental to the investigation. The federation stressed the importance of a thorough and professional investigation to determine the causes of the accident and ensure aviation safety. IFALPA expressed its commitment to supporting the efforts of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India in determining the contributing factors of the accident and emphasised the need for professionalism and respect for the victims, including the families of the crew and passengers, while the full investigation is conducted. "Whilst this preliminary Report by its very nature raises many questions, it does not provide answers, and any extrapolation of its content can only be regarded as guesswork, which is not helpful to the good conduct of the investigation. IFALPA also notes that the Report clearly states that no safety recommendations are being provided at this stage. The Federation remains committed to supporting the efforts of the AAIB of India as they work to determine the contributing factors of this accident." It said, "The victims, including the families of the crew and passengers of Air India 171, deserve our collective professionalism while the full investigation is conducted." The International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations represents over 1,48,000 pilots in nearly 100 countries worldwide. It is the global voice of professional pilots, providing representation, services, and support to promote the highest level of aviation safety worldwide. This comes after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India in July 11, 2025 released the preliminary report into the tragic crash of Air India flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. The report pinpointed the critical event as both fuel cutoff switches for the GE GEnx-1B engines moving from "RUN" to "CUTOFF" within one second of each other during the initial climb, approximately 30 seconds after reaching a maximum airspeed of 180 knots IAS. This cut off fuel to both engines, causing a catastrophic loss of thrust. The report found no evidence of mechanical failure, design flaws, or bird strikes. Fuel samples from the refueling tanks were satisfactory, ruling out contamination. The AI 171 crash of the Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft in Ahmedabad, Gujarat killed 260 people, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground.


Times of Oman
12-07-2025
- Times of Oman
"Very bad sign of things escalating in Canada, Carney's first major test on security": Canadian journalist on Kap's Cafe attack
Vancouver: Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman called the attack on a cafe owned by comedian Kapil Sharma a "very bad sign of things escalating in Canada" and said that it is Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's first "major test on security." In an interview with ANI, Bordman pointed out the recent attacks in Canada, including the targeting of temples by Khalistanis. He also talked on how terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International has claimed responsibility for it and called it imperative for Carney to set some deterrence so that there is decrease in crime in Canada. When asked about shooting at Kap's Cafe in Surrey, he said, "It's a very bad sign of things escalating in Canada. I mean we have already seen a big uptick in extremist violence, especially post-October 7th. The Khalistanis have been going on for a few years as well. We've seen fire bombings of synagogues, shooting up of Jewish play schools. We've seen, of course, the attack on the mandir by the Khalistanis. But this is disturbing because it presents sort of a new type of escalation, because this is an attack on a cafe that opened a few days ago, owned by a famous Indian comedian. But what's interesting about this one is the Babbar Khalsa International, a listed terrorist organization in both Babbar Khalsa International infamously blew up the Air India 182. They're taking responsibility for it." "So not only, I mean, it'd be one thing if this was sort of a random attack, whereas a wink, wink. This is like sort of a Khalistani extortion racket type thing and we have that going on. But this is another step up the ladder where it's an act of violence and intimidation, where they then post the media, the social media themselves post their crime online. They post their crime online and then they take responsibility for it. This is usually what you expect in Yemen or Pakistan or Somalia or other places in the Middle East where a terrorist attack happens and then a group enthusiastically wants to take credit for it because they're a terror organization and terror organizations usually are able to sort of live in lawless land. That's why again you see terrorist organizations pop up in Yemen and Somalia, places that are generally considered lawless and not I don't really have functioning governments But, This is Canada where we electorally do have a functioning government," he added. Several gun shots rang outside Kap's Cafe, owned by comedian Kapil Sharma, in Canada's Surrey at 1:50 am (local time) on Thursday, according to Surrey Police Service. Police said some staff members were present inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting. No one was hurt in the incident. The cafe had opened a few days back. He said that the response to the attack will show whether Canada under Mark Carney's leadership is any different to how the country was under former PM Justin Trudeau's government. "This is a massive test to Mark Carney's leadership we saw the country get out of control under Justin Trudeau's tenure. This is Mark Carney's first major test on security and we will see if Mark Carney's Canada is in any way different than just in Trudeau's Canada. So, with British Columbia now waking up to this news, we will see over the next 12 hours or so just how the establishment responds to this terrorist attack," he said. Bordman stated that extremist groups like Khalistani, Muslim Brotherhood offshoots, Hezbollah supporters are active in Canada and mentioned about the attacks on churches, synagogues. He expressed hope that there is an investigation into the attack and the people behind it are arrested. On how he sees the attack as there have been such attacks in Surrey in the past as well, he responded, "I find this one interesting because it's the claiming credit and the public posting of it. That's what really sets us off from the other one. Yes, Surrey has seen violence. We've seen Khalistani intimidation. This is nothing new, but it's when they go up the ladder that presents a real problem because it then inspires other extremists. Because again, the Khalistanis aren't the only extremist group active in Canada. You have Muslim Brotherhood offshoots, you have Hezbollah supporters and again, there are churches are being attacked by mostly radical Marxists. Synagogues are being attacked. So, when one group goes up the escalation ladder, it usually moves the needle forward for all other groups if nothing's done about it. So, when this is now sort of a clock, we've climbed a ladder ...in Canada today. It is sort of imperative that Mark Carney make sure and set some deterrence that you do not go up the ladder, in which case you'll see a decrease in crime in Canada." "But if this is sort of swept away and the RCMP and and Surrey police and and start staring at their feet and kicking rocks and the provincial government says this is a federal issue and the federal government says is provincial issue the provincial government says well It's local and the local says no, it's federal and the federal says no It's provincial right if you get into that cycle where everyone starts deferring responsibility, then you'll see a massive increase in violence you'll see because that's what a sort of a terrorist mentality is they always check to see what they can get away with. So if you say, you can get away with shooting up a restaurant in the middle of the posting about it, taking responsibility for it... well now you have people openly claiming responsibility for crimes posting on crimes and getting away with it. It's gonna set what's the next step, what's what's the next, well are they gone a shoot at a restaurant, when there are people actually inside of it, when its closed, what's the next level of terrorist intimidation they're gonna do," he added. Expressing hope that there is an action taken against those behind the attack, he said, "Hopefully we don't figure it out, hopefully this is deterred, hopefully actually there is real consequences hopefully the people behind this are arrested or detained or deported or there's some visible consequences to institute deterrence. But, we will have to wait and see what Mark Carney does about this because he wants trade with india apparently he's invited Modi,... Khalistani terrorist threatening to kill everyone are actually threatened to kill everyone. So, this is the first major test of okay when it comes down to it. Like an open terrorist attack in Canada and extremist attack. They're posting about it. What will Mark Carney Police force justice system do about this and and and that will have to wait and see." He spoke on how Canada's criminal justice system is different from what it is in the US, where trials are done more openly and people have access to all the stuff. He noted that Canada keeps everything under wraps and releases information only when the trial is completed. On what action he expects from Carney's leadership on the attack, he said, "It is hard to know, because Canada in defence of Mark Carney or Justin Trudeau is not like America in the criminal justice way. I mean, entire world tends to view itself through an American lens, and not just an American lens, the type of America that exists on television. So, American television shows, that's our sort of view of the justice system. But, Canada's very much not like that. So whereas the American system tends to do trials more openly, public has access to all this stuff. Canada's ... has always been to keep everything hush hush and completely under wraps, the trial is completed and then release information to the public all about that. So, don't expect any like big declarations and press conferences from the Canadian police just claiming they got their guy. But I do hope that something is done because again individuals did claim responsibility for this."So, in order to deter this, this you're going to need some sort of strong response to the RCMP and if they don't arrest everyone, there's going to have to be arrests made. I think within a few days, you're going to need to see arrests in order for there to be some deterrent." "And in Canada, it's a very top-down system, cults of personalities. So, it ultimately does follow the Mar Carney, because we can pretend that there's a separation between the federal government and the judiciary. But the SNC-Lavalin scandal showed that that's absolutely not the case. This is a country where Mark Carney if he decides to enforce the law here the criminal will go to jail and if he decides to not enforce the law the criminal will not go to jail. So, it ultimately will fall. I mean Mark Carney Prime Minister, also premier David Eby of the NDP hardcore socialists. I don't expect them to do anything. But, they both have the power to enforce the law here Because again, that's kind of how Canada works. We pretend it isn't because it says so on paper, but that's absolutely not case in reality. It is interesting and I don't want to be too pessimistic," he added. Daniel Bordman said that he would have expected no action from Trudeau-led government. However, he stated that they have not seen how Carney handles the incident, as he has been taking measures to repair Canada's ties with India and called it his "first major test." "If Justin Trudeau was still prime minister, I'd say nothing would happen. That would be my bet. But we haven't seen how Mark Carney handles this and Mark Carney actually has been taking steps to repair the Canada-India relation and this is his first major test. So I would not be surprised if Mark Carney does something here, which is a positive development of Canadian politics," he stated. Diplomatic tensions between the two nations flared up in 2023 after then Canadian PM Justin Trudeau alleged that his government had "credible allegations" of India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in 2023. India had strongly denied the charges, calling them "absurd" and "politically motivated." With Mark Carney now serving as Canada's PM, both countries appear to be taking steps to improve ties. According to Ministry of External Affairs, PM Narendra Modi and Carney had a "key meeting" at the G7 Summit where they discussed ways to restore and strengthen the bilateral relationship. At least 10 bullet holes were visible in a window at Kap's Cafe on Thursday morning, while another window pane was broken. The building, where the cafe is located, has retail units at ground level and residential apartments above; however, it is not known how many residents live in the building. A multi-faith centre and two other businesses, which are yet to open, occupy other ground-level units. Officers could be seen in the restaurant gathering evidence while children were playing across the street outside a daycare located in Newton neighbourhood that is now cordoned off by police tape, Vancouver Sun reported. Surrey Police Service (SPS) said that the investigation is still in the very early stages and "and connections to other incident and potential motives are being examined." Police do not have a suspect description yet and the motive behind the shooting has not been determined, Vancouver Sun reported.