60% of Canadians Hold Unfavourable View of India Amid Allegations of Foreign Interference: Poll

A recent survey by the Angus Reid Institute (ARI) and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF) reveals that 60% of Canadians now hold an unfavourable view of India, a sharp increase from 26% in January 2020. This shift comes in the wake of Ottawa’s allegations linking New Delhi to foreign interference and violent criminal activities in Canada.

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APF Canada’s Vice-President, Vina Nadjibulla, remarked that public opinion about India has undergone a stark transformation in just two years. “India was seen as a critical partner in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, but now public sentiment paints a very different picture,” she said.

Despite strained ties, a majority of Canadians (64%) believe Ottawa should cautiously re-open trade negotiations with India, citing economic pragmatism amidst potential global trade conflicts.

Public dissatisfaction with the Trudeau administration’s handling of the India-Canada relationship also emerged as a theme. While 39% of respondents criticized Ottawa’s approach, a similar percentage doubted any improvement under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tensions between the two nations escalated last year following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claims of “credible allegations” linking Indian agents to the killing of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. The diplomatic fallout has strained bilateral relations, with New Delhi expelling six Canadian diplomats in October.

As Canada heads towards a federal election in 2025, the future of its relationship with India will likely remain under scrutiny, influenced by public opinion and shifting geopolitical dynamics.