'A threat to all of us': Eby addresses RCMP allegations Indian officials linked to Canadian homicides, extortion
B.C. NDP leader David Eby took a break from campaigning Monday to address stunning new allegations from the RCMP that Indian diplomats and consular officials are linked to violent criminal activity on Canadian soil.
Eby, who said he heard the troubling allegations against New Delhi for the first time Monday along with other Canadians, assured British Columbians that police will be given all the resources they need to “hold those involved accountable.”
“Our province’s strength is the fact that people come here from around the world and they can be safe and build a good life for themselves and their families. Anything that threatens that is a threat to all of us,” Eby said.
Read more: RCMP alleges Indian officials in Canada connected to extortion, homicides
At a Thanksgiving Day news conference, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said he was making the rare move of revealing information about an ongoing investigation “due to the significant threat to public safety in our country.”
Since Mounties formed a multi-jurisdiction team earlier this year to investigate threats against the South Asian community, especially those in the Sikh diaspora, police have uncovered “a significant amount of information about the breadth and depth of criminal activity orchestrated by agents of the Government of India, and consequential threats to the safety and security of Canadians and individuals living in Canada.”
That includes finding links between agents of the Indian government and homicides and other violent acts, Mounties say.
Eby told reporters he spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and federal Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and that he asked for their assurance federal investigators will continue to work with police in B.C. to ensure justice is served. “They have of course assured me that will be the case,” he said.
When asked for the specifics of what LeBlanc shared, Eby said he was told, "there is credible evidence that the government of India, through agents in Canada, has been involved in homicides—plural, extortions—plural, acts of violence against Canadians, (and) acts of intimidation against Canadians with an aim of advancing the interests of the governments of India.”
“This is obviously a very serious allegation,” he added. “I am certain that he would not be raising these issues, the RCMP would not be holding a press conference if this wasn’t serious and credible information.”
Eby urged anyone who has been the target of threats or extortion to contact police and help further the investigation. “And we can weed it out, because we don’t want it here.”
Monday’s developments mark the latest in an escalating confrontation between India and Canada that kicked off publicly last year when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada was investigating credible allegations that agents of the government of India were involved in the killing of prominent Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C.
In response to the latest allegations, Canada announced it was expelling six Indian diplomats connected to a "targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India."
In what appears to be a tit-for-tat retaliation, India announced it is expelling six Canadian diplomats, including the top two diplomats stationed in New Delhi.
With files from CTV News’ Brennan MacDonald
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Feds move to end work stoppages at ports, order binding arbitration
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon says he is intervening to end the work stoppages at ports in both British Columbia and Montreal.
Canada Post workers issue 72-hour strike notice
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has given a 72-hour strike notice to Canada Post.
23 arrested after at least 100 shots fired in exchange of gunfire outside Toronto recording studio: police
Police say 23 people are in custody after at least 100 shots were fired in an exchange of gunfire outside a West Queen West recording studio on Monday night.
'He begged me': Brampton, Ont. woman loses more than $200K to romance scam
A Brampton woman says she is devastated after she lost more than $200,000 — her life's savings — to a romance scam.
What consumers need to know if Canada Post workers strike ahead of a busy holiday season
Canada's postal workers could walk off the job or the company could lock them out as soon as 12:01 a.m. ET Friday if the union and the company don't reach an agreement. Here are tips for shoppers and businesses.
Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments
A new Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public classroom by Jan. 1 was temporarily blocked Tuesday by a federal judge who said the law is 'unconstitutional on its face.'
Ottawa high school principal apologizes for song played during Remembrance Day assembly
The principal of an Ottawa high school is apologizing to students, parents and guardians after an Arabic-language song was played during the school's Remembrance Day service.
Driver rams his car into crowd in China, killing 35. Police say he was upset about his divorce
A man who authorities said was upset over his divorce settlement rammed his car into a crowd of people exercising at a sports complex in southern China, killing 35 and severely injuring dozens of others, police said Tuesday.
Judge extends the time to indict the driver accused of killing Johnny Gaudreau and his brother
The driver charged with killing NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, as they were cycling on a rural New Jersey road briefly appeared in court Tuesday, where the judge extended the window for prosecutors to seek an indictment.