Mark Carney (L) Narendra Modi (L) / Reuters/PIB

As the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit is set to take place in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, there is renewed optimism regarding the potential for a return to normalcy in bilateral relations between Canada and India. This optimism was sparked by a heartfelt telephone conversation between the two Prime Ministers on June 6, the week prior to the elite gathering.

Following the call, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded warmly on his social media handle X  by congratulating Mark Carney on his recent election victory and thanking him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month.

After a thaw in the bilateral relations between the two nations last years, Modi indicated a shift in Indian stance from the era of Justin Trudeau when the two nations were locked in a tit-for-tat battle, levelling serious allegations against each other besides shrinking their respective diplomatic corps to the minimum.

Modi said in his  X post, “As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit (G7).”

Also Read: PM Modi to visit Canada for G7 summit

When the two leaders conversed over the telephone line, they reportedly discussed the longstanding relationship between Canada and India, including deep people-to-people ties and significant commercial links. Importantly, there was agreement to continue law enforcement dialogue and discussions addressing security concerns.

The development has brought cheers to the strong Indo-Canadian community as well as the investment circles, as several companies had planned huge investments in each other’s territories.

Early this month, the new Foreign Minister of Canada, Anita Anand, spoke to her counterpart, S. Jaishankar, to set the tone for the telephonic talk between the two Prime Ministers.

Justin Trudeau was the last Canadian Prime Minister to visit India, while Narendra Modi visited Canada on the invitation of then-Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2015.

Canada and India have longstanding bilateral relations built upon shared traditions of democracy, pluralism and strong interpersonal connections. Canada is home to one of the largest communities of Indian origin, with approximately 4 percent of Canadians being of Indian heritage (1.3 million people).

The deep cultural and political ties between Canada and India are strengthened by a growing network of official dialogues, agreements, memoranda of understanding and working groups. At the Ministerial level, Canada and India enjoy a strategic partnership underpinned by Ministerial Dialogues on foreign policy, trade and investment, finance, and energy.

At the official level, there are regular working groups that focus on counter-terrorism, security, agriculture, education, and science and technology.

In India, Canada is represented by the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi. Canada also has Consulates General in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai, as well as trade offices in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. In addition, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has a significant presence in India; the High Commission in New Delhi is home to Canada’s largest visa office abroad.

India is represented in Canada by a High Commission in Ottawa and by consulates in Toronto and Vancouver.

A priority market for Canada, in 2022, India was Canada’s 10th-largest trading partner. India will be a key partner as Canada strengthens its economic links to the Indo-Pacific under a new, comprehensive strategy for the region. Canada and India are working toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), and are committed to regularly holding Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment to explore ways to deepen the commercial relationship.

Canada also has an advanced suite of bilateral agreements and MOUs with India that touch on commerce, including nuclear cooperation, double taxation, science and technology, agriculture, civil aviation, energy, education, and  information and communications technologies

Since 2018, India has been the largest source country for international students in Canada. Engagement with India in education is a priority for Canada, with a focus on enhanced education and skills training through greater collaboration between Canadian and Indian educational and technical skills institutions. The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will once again open up some of the channels, including international students, that started shutting abruptly last year.

Increased Security

Meanwhile, the organizers of the G7 Summit are making adequate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the summit.

Days before the start of the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), along with its partners in the Integrated Safety and Security Group (ISSG), have outlined the scope of the security operation planned in Kananaskis, Calgary, Banff and surrounding communities impacted by the Summit.

"The goal of the Calgary Police Service is to prioritise the safety and security of Calgarians while minimising disruptions to daily life throughout the G7 Summit. This event will put Calgary on the global stage, and we look forward to showing the world how welcoming our city can be, while still ensuring rights are respected," says David Hall, Chief Superintendent.

"Officers from all areas of the Alberta Sheriffs are proud to participate in such a large-scale, multifaceted security operation, applying their expertise and knowledge to assist in this truly unique undertaking. The collective efforts of federal, provincial and municipal agencies have been essential to the security planning and implementation work leading up to this year's G7 Summit," says Joe Brar, Superintendent and Event Security Director.