Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend a major community gathering in Toronto on December 11 during his upcoming two-day visit to Canada, as New Delhi and Ottawa continue efforts to strengthen bilateral relations. Organisers are aiming to bring together nearly 30,000 members of the Indo-Canadian community for the event, which is expected to take place at a prominent venue in the city. Preparations are underway, with a website launched to allow community organisations to register their participation and promotional material circulated among members on Thursday. The gathering is expected to be one of the key public engagements during Modi’s visit, offering an opportunity for him to interact with members of the Indian diaspora. The final details of the programme, including the venue and other engagements, are still being worked out. People familiar with the planning have indicated that the event is expected to attract participation from community groups across Canada.

Modi is scheduled to visit Canada on December 11 and 12, although the programme could extend beyond these dates depending on the final arrangements. During the visit, he is expected to travel to Ottawa, where he will hold discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Toronto, where the community gathering is planned. The Indian Prime Minister is also expected to meet representatives of Canadian businesses in Ottawa as part of efforts to expand economic cooperation. After completing his engagements in Canada, Modi will travel to Miami in the United States to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit. The visit will mark his first bilateral trip to Canada since 2015, when he travelled to Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver during the tenure of former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The forthcoming trip is being viewed as an important diplomatic engagement as both countries seek to rebuild confidence and expand cooperation after a prolonged period of strained relations.

Carney had indicated the broad outline of Modi’s visit earlier this month while interacting with members of the Indo-Canadian community in Calgary. He said the Indian Prime Minister was expected to visit Ottawa and Toronto on December 11 and 12, while leaving open the possibility of expanding the programme. The Indian High Commission in Ottawa subsequently confirmed the dates through a social media announcement, stating that both leaders had agreed to build on the positive momentum in bilateral ties. The announcement followed a telephone conversation between Modi and Carney, during which they discussed cooperation in trade, energy, technology, security and people-to-people exchanges. The two leaders also reiterated their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership and working towards concrete outcomes in areas of mutual interest. However, officials and people familiar with the arrangements have indicated that the detailed itinerary is yet to be finalised.

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Trade negotiations are expected to be a major component of the visit, with India and Canada looking to announce the conclusion of talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Five rounds of negotiations have already been completed, and officials from both countries are expected to hold two further meetings in November to examine outstanding issues. Provisions agreed upon during the discussions are also undergoing legal scrutiny before a final agreement can be announced. The proposed pact is intended to expand commercial engagement, improve market access and create opportunities for businesses in both countries. The negotiations began in March, when the two sides signed the terms of reference in the presence of Modi and Carney in New Delhi. Both governments have expressed interest in concluding the agreement at the earliest opportunity, with the broader objective of significantly increasing bilateral trade. The Canadian government is also seeking to strengthen economic partnerships with countries such as India amid continuing trade tensions with the United States.

The upcoming visit comes after India-Canada relations deteriorated significantly following allegations made by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2023 concerning the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents were involved in the killing, an accusation New Delhi rejected as baseless and politically motivated. The diplomatic dispute led to a prolonged period of tensions, affecting official engagement and cooperation between the two countries. Efforts to improve relations gained momentum after Carney became Canada's prime minister in March 2025. His invitation to Modi to attend the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in June 2025 provided an opportunity for renewed high-level engagement. Subsequent discussions between officials and ministers from both countries have focused on rebuilding trust and identifying areas where cooperation can resume. During her recent visit to New Delhi, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand described India as an important partner and held discussions with Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on trade, energy and security. Modi’s December visit is expected to provide another opportunity for both governments to advance these discussions.

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