Justin Trudeau Resigns: Could His Departure Ease Strained Ties Between Canada and India

Photo : Reuters

With Justin Trudeau stepping down as Prime Minister of Canada, the country's future seems uncertain. His resignation ends nearly 10 years of leadership, marked by strong immigration policies, global aid efforts, and criticism from his political rivals. His decision also makes Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre the main candidate to take charge of Canadian politics. Poilievre promises to change many of the country’s policies, including overhauling the immigration system.

Some members of the Indian-Canadian community say Trudeau’s resignation is “bittersweet.” They believe his immigration policies created challenges, which eventually led to his downfall.

Suraj Subhadarshee, a business and product strategy manager at a tech company in Toronto “It feels like driving a car with the wrong fuel. His resignation is bittersweet. But his policies, especially on immigration, government sanctions, and aid, played a role in this.”

Another tech analyst, speaking anonymously, shared a similar view: “The Indian-Canadian community is happy he is stepping down. His government failed to manage economic setbacks that affected families and individuals.”

Trudeau's Immigration Policy
Trudeau's approach to immigration has sparked mixed reactions. He set high targets, aiming to bring over 500,000 permanent residents each year by 2025, in hopes of addressing labour shortages and helping Canada's aging population. But critics say the sudden increase in immigrants has stretched housing, healthcare, and other public services.

Subhadarshee added, “For years, immigration was more controlled. But then, there was a massive influx from around the world. It’s important to manage immigration carefully to support the economy in the long term. Uncontrolled immigration, along with government benefits, can cause problems. It’s like a double-edged sword.”

The tech analyst agreed, saying, “Canada’s infrastructure is struggling, and immigration helps in some ways, but it needs to be managed properly.”

Some, however, feel Canada should stop immigration altogether. “Now that I live here, I hope they stop all immigration,” one person said.

India-Canada Relations
Trudeau's resignation also raises questions about the future of relations between India and Canada, which have been tense. The Indian-Canadian community is particularly concerned about how strained diplomatic ties could affect immigrants and people with connections to both countries.

Subhadarshee said, “I don’t expect much from the temporary government, but I’m hopeful about Pierre Poilievre. Immigration has already been affected, but any country that sets immigration laws does so to benefit itself. Canada is no different.”

He believes stricter policies could help bring fairness and balance back to the system, although it may upset some. “When immigration policies were too lenient, Canada became a safe haven for many. Now, with stricter policies, people are protesting. If someone wants to live the Canadian dream, they need to work for it, not buy it.”

Tensions between India and Canada rose in September 2023 when Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. India strongly denied the allegation. Trudeau’s claims about India supporting criminal activities were met with sharp criticism, both in Canada and internationally.

“I hope that the new leadership will help stabilize the situation and clean up the mess left behind,” said Ruturaj Gaurav, a senior analyst at a tech firm.

A New Conservative Approach
Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative leader, has been a strong critic of Trudeau’s immigration strategy. In December 2024, Poilievre said the "out-of-control NDP-Liberal government has ruined our system," and called for a more controlled immigration policy. He has suggested capping immigration based on the availability of housing, healthcare, and jobs.

Subhadarshee, who met Poilievre in person, said, “I think Poilievre is promising. It's time to give the Conservatives a chance. If Poilievre becomes the leader, Canada could benefit from his leadership.”

Trudeau’s immigration policies were a central part of his leadership. His government resettled over 40,000 Syrian refugees and launched the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program, which allowed over 200,000 Ukrainians to seek temporary refuge in Canada.

Poilievre might focus on prioritizing skilled immigration to fill labour shortages, potentially reducing the number of family reunifications or refugee quotas. His proposed changes may also include lessening bureaucratic delays in housing development to solve Canada’s housing crisis.

Final Thoughts
Some people, however, are not entirely optimistic about the future. Gaurav, a senior analyst, said, “Poilievre is not perfect, but what choice do we have?”

The resignation of Trudeau opens the door to a potential shift in Canada's policies and leadership. While some hope for improvements, others remain unsure about the changes ahead.

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