Public opinion in Canada regarding India has seen a significant decline over the past year, after accusations by the Canadian government of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and meddling in Canadian elections. A survey by the Angus Reid Institute (ARI) revealed that positive views of India among Canadians have dropped by 11 points to 33% in 2024 from 44% in March 2023.
India has denied involvement in the Nijjar killing and junked claims by Canadian spy agencies of meddling in its polls.
In 2024, only one-third (33%) of Canadians view India favourably, while a majority (54%) hold an unfavourable opinion. This marks the lowest percentage since 2019, when 56% of Canadians held a favourable view of India.
In 2023, 44% of the Canadians held a favourable view of India.
The Angus Reid Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan foundation that researches public opinion on economic, social, governance, philanthropy, and policy issues in Canada and globally.
“Positive appraisal of India has declined by 11 points in Canada since March 2023; a minority of one-third (33%) who say they view the country favourably are outnumbered by the majority (54%) who do not,” stated the report.
In contrast, Americans have shown more favourable views towards India.
The Angus Reid Institute (ARI) finds Canadians offering strongly negative assessments of two of the countries accused of meddling in Canadian elections.
A recent special report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) has labelled India as the “second-biggest foreign threat” to Canada’s democracy.
Another country identified as the biggest threat, China, also saw a dip in favourability, with 79% of Canadians holding an unfavourable view.
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s accusation that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar have strained Canada-India relations.
Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey on June 2023.
However, India vehemently rejected the claims and call it absurd and motivated.
“Trudeau says Canada supports a “united India”, the presence of Sikh separatists in Canada has been a source of tension between India and Canada. Trudeau’s accusation that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar only exacerbated the strained relationship. Recent rocky relations between Canada and India also appear to be dragging down Canadian assessments of the world’s most populous country,” stated the ARI report.
Beyond bilateral tensions, rising anti-immigration sentiments in Canada also projected upon Indians, who form the largest group of migrants to Canada. This sentiment influences how Canadians view India, shaping public opinion of the world’s most populous country.
In 2023, nearly 320,000 Indians moved to Canada on study visas. However, starting in 2024, Canada has reduced study permits by 35%, alongside stricter work permit criteria and increased scrutiny.