The RCMP is clarifying previous comments from Commissioner Mike Duheme, saying the police organization is aware of incidents of intimidation and harassment by foreign states, but is unable to identify current criminal links.
“What we can say is that the RCMP is aware of complaints of intimidation and harassment against certain communities across Canada. The RCMP, and the broader Government of Canada, is also aware that foreign states are engaging in such activities in Canada,” the RCMP told CTV News in a statement on Wednesday.
“Investigations are ongoing; however, based on criminal intelligence currently held by the RCMP related to transnational repression, establishing a direct link to a foreign entity with information that can be disclosed in a criminal proceeding is a complex process.”
The statement comes after Duheme told CTV News on March 19 that there are no longer clandestine activities or transnational repression taking place in Canada that is linked to the government of India.
“In the files that we have that involve transnational repression, we’re not seeing any connection right now with any foreign entity, based on the criminal information, the investigations that we have presently,” Duheme told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an exclusive interview, when asked several times whether transnational repression by agents of India is still a concern.
In the interview, Duheme also emphasized how it can be difficult to connect certain transnational repression activities to a specific foreign entity.
The commissioner’s remarks sparked backlash from the Sikh community.
At the time, Sikhs for Justice said the group “strongly rejects and questions the intent behind the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)’s claim that it ‘cannot connect the dots’ between ongoing transnational repression in Canada and India’s Modi Government.”
Duheme’s interview followed a background briefing to reporters ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to India in February, during which senior government officials appeared to downplay the threat of foreign interference and transnational repression from India.
Carney, meanwhile, has faced some criticism for pushing to reset relations with India amid allegations of foreign interference and transnational repression.
In 2023, former prime minister Justin Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” that agents of the Indian government were involved in the assassination of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has denied the accusations.
A year later, the RCMP accused Indian diplomats and consular officials based in Canada of engaging in clandestine activities linked to serious criminal activity in this country, including homicides and extortions.
In its latest statement, the RCMP says its investigation into Nijjar’s killing is ongoing, but “there will be no further comment at this time.”
Back in March, following the background briefing on India, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) told CTV News that India remains one of the “main perpetrators” of foreign interference and espionage, as highlighted by a recent CSIS report.
With files from CTV News’ Spencer Van Dyk and Abigail Bimman
