MPs from Both Major Parties and India’s High Commissioner Join CIF in a Day of Dialogue, Commitment and Celebration
A strong delegation from the Canada India Foundation (CIF) arrived on Parliament Hill on April 14, 2026, carrying a message of urgency, optimism and purpose, that the time to build a trusted, long-term and non-partisan relationship with India is now, and that Canada’s Parliament must be the institution that holds that commitment steady through every change of season – political or otherwise.
The day unfolded as if the occasion itself had conspired to make the case. It was Vaisakhi – the ancient festival of harvest, renewal and gratitude- celebrated by millions across India, and by over 1.8 million Indo-Canadians in every province of this country. Spring was in the Ottawa air. And in meeting rooms across Parliament Hill, something that had been absent for too long was also returning- goodwill, momentum, and a shared conviction that Canada and India belong in each other’s future.
India’s High Commissioner Opens His Home and the Door to a New Chapter In recognition of Vaisakhi and in honour of the visiting CIF delegation, His Excellency Dinesh Patnaik, High Commissioner of India to Canada, hosted an exclusive reception at his official residence. The gathering brought together CIF members, Members of Parliament from Canada’s two major parties, and members of Ottawa’s Indo-
Canadian community – in an atmosphereof celebration, candour and genuine
friendship.
Speaking with evident warmth about the bilateral reset now underway, His Excellency offered words that captured the mood of the evening: “It has received an amazing reception whether from the left or the right or the centre! We can all be proud of the fact that this relationship has reached a place of trust and respect. Credit is due to both Prime Ministers for recognizing the evolving dynamics of the international economic order and the geopolitical realities shaping today’s world. Their leadership reflects a clear understanding of the constructive role both nations can play by deepening this partnership. With distinct yet complementary visions for bilateral engagement, they are well positioned to advance collaboration that delivers meaningful benefits not only to the people of Canada and India, but also to the broader international community. We are two nations that should be naturally working together. We are the largest democracies in the world – India in population and Canada, in size. Like my Prime Minister (Modi)
said, ‘you have the supply and we have the market.’ Both Canada and India are multicultural societies where many cultures come together – like the many dishes come together in an Indian thali -and the separate dishes make it a wonderful unifying experience.” -H.E. Dinesh Patnaik, High Commissioner of India to Canada.
These were not merely gracious words at a reception. They were a statement of strategic clarity from one of India’s most senior diplomats and they were received with genuine enthusiasm by every Member of Parliament in the room.
“We are grateful to the High Commissioner for his kind invitation and his encouraging words. We are now even more convinced that both Canada and India are on the fast track to working together to release the full potential in this relationship – thanks to a sincere commitment from both sides. CIF is here to ensure
that commitment is matched with institutional support, community engagement and the kind of non-partisan parliamentary friendship that makes a bilateral relationship genuinely resilient.” -Ritesh Malik, Chair, Canada India Foundation
A Day of Substance on Parliament Hill
The CIF delegation held detailed, substantive discussions with Members of Parliament from across the country and across party lines. Each meeting was an opportunity to make the case for a
consistent, non-partisan, long-term approach to the Canada-India bilateral – and each meeting was met with understanding, interest and, in many cases, enthusiastic agreement.
The delegation met with:
Mr. Marc Dalton, MP (Pitt Meadows-
Maple Ridge)
Mr. Brad Vis, MP (Abbotsford)
Hon. Andrew Scheer, MP (Regina)
Mr. Shuvloy Majumdar, MP (Calgary Heritage)
Mr. Adam Chambers, MP (Simcoe North)
Mr. John Brassard, MP (Barrie South-Innisfil)
Hon. John Zerucelli, MP (Etobicoke North), Secretary of State for Labour,
Government of Canada
Hon. Peter Fonseca, MP (Mississauga East—Cooksville), Member, Standing
Committee on International Trade
The breadth of this list – spanning government and opposition, British Columbia to Ontario -is itself a statement. The Canada-India relationship has friends on every bench. What it needs now is the institutional home to channel that friendship into lasting policy.
What CIF Asked For – Five Concrete Steps
Canada India Foundation presented Members of Parliament with five clear and actionable asks, each grounded in Canada’s national economic interest:
Reconstitute the Canada India Parliamentary Friendship Group: Formally reconstitute the Group with broad, cross-party membership- a standing parliamentary platform that signals to New Delhi and to Canadian businesses that this relationship is a national priority transcending any single government or
electoral cycle.
Champion CEPA Progress: Use committee positions to advance the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement-particularly the agri-food, critical minerals and clean energy chapters that carry the greatest direct benefit for Canadian farmers, exporters and workers.
Restore Diwali on the Hill: Support the reinstatement of the beloved and nonpartisan Single Diwali on the Hill celebration in early November 2026 -a visible act of inclusion for 1.8 million Indo-Canadian Canadians in every province, and a signal that Parliament celebrates the cultures that make Canada extraordinary.
Support a Dedicated Agri-Food Working Group: Propose to the Standing Committee on Agriculture that a formal working group be established to track CEPA implementation progress and market access outcomes for Canadian pulse, canola and processed food exporters.
Engage CIF as a Bilateral Resource: CIF is available to every Member of Parliament as a non-partisan briefing resource on India-related files- providing community context, economic data and diplomatic perspective to support well informed decisions at any time.
Vaisakhi – The Harvest That Connects Two Nations
There is something deeply fitting about the fact that this day of advocacy and celebration fell on Vaisakhi. At its heart, Vaisakhi is a harvest festival – a celebration of what the earth yields when it is
tended with patience and faith. And at the heart of the Canada-India economic partnership lies
exactly that: agriculture. Canada is a farming nation. India feeds 1.4 billion people. Saskatchewan’s pulse farmers grow lentils and chickpeas that nourish Indian families. Alberta’s canola reaches
Indian kitchens as cooking oil. Manitoba’s food processors see in India a market of extraordinary scale. Agriculture is already Canada’s single largest export category to India – and under CEPA, that bond is poised to grow dramatically.
On Vaisakhi, surrounded by the colours and warmth of one of the world’s great harvest festivals, the Canada-India relationship felt less like a trade file and more like what it truly is: a partnership between two peoples who understand the dignity of the earth, the value of the grower, and the promise of a good harvest shared.
“Canada India Foundation reaffirms its commitment to advocate strongly for the safety and economic wellbeing of the Indo-Canadian community and to help bring about a mutually rewarding and respectful bilateral relationship with India. We are here for the farmers, exporters, investors, researchers, students and communities whose futures will be enriched through a stable, ambitious and professionally managed Canada-India economic partnership. Today gave us every reason to
believe that future is closer than ever.” -Ritesh Malik
Looking Forward
CIF departs Ottawa energised and encouraged. The conversations on Parliament Hill confirmed what the community has long believed: that the desire for a strong, consistent and mutually beneficial Canada-India relationship runs deeper than any arty line. With the Parliamentary Friendship Group on the path to reconstitution, CEPA moving forward, and Diwali on the Hill on the horizon for November 2026,
there is every reason for optimism.
Spring has come to this relationship. And like all true springs- it was worth the wait.
