The Executives and Charter Members of Canada India Foundation travelled to Ottawa on March 7, to hold a private meeting with the new High Commissioner of India in Canada, His Excellency Nirmal Verma. At the meeting, also attended by Deputy High Commissioner Mrs. Narinder Chauhan, CIF Members had the opportunity to talk to the High Commissioner about the public policy objectives of CIF as well as the initiatives it had undertaken to strengthen relations between Canada and India. The High Commissioner was very receptive to the comments from the CIF members and also emphasized his resolve to set targets for Canada-India trade and exceed them. CIF Members who attended were Barj Dhahan, Deepak Ruparell, Rahul Shastri, Atul Tolia, V.I. Lakshmanan, Vasu Chanchlani, Ramesh Chotai, Aditya Jha, Ajit Someshwar, Pankaj Dave, Laj Prasher and Mukund Purohit.

Following the private meeting, CIF organized a reception to honour the High Commissioner. Special attendees at the reception were Canada's Parliamentarians, specifically Executives of the Canada India Interparliamentarty Friendship Group, Minister Bal Gosal, Minister Tim Uppal and Leader of the Green Party Elizabeth May. Other parliamentarians present were MP's Deepak Obhrai, Patrick Brown, Devinder Shory, Kyle Seeback, Kirsty Duncan, Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe and Senators Larry Smith and Asha Seth. Dignitaries from Ottawa included recent Order of Canada recipient Venkatesh Mannar, Pradeep Merchant and Nishith Goel.

B.C. to host business forum focused on trade and investment with India

VANCOUVER - Business leaders from India and British Columbia will meet to discuss trade and investment opportunities at the BC-India Global Business Forum on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre.

The opening and expansion of markets for British Columbia's goods and services, particularly in Asia, and the attraction of investment to grow B.C.'s priority sectors is a key pillar of the BC Jobs Plan. India is identified in the BC Jobs Plan as a priority market.

The B.C. government has been spearheading India market outreach efforts to seek new export and investment opportunities for B.C. businesses, and to create greater awareness of B.C.'s advantages as a trading partner.

The BC-India Global Business Forum is a key part of B.C.'s longer-term economic and trade strategy with India. It will profile key sectors that are of mutual priority for both the B.C. and Indian markets. The forum will include sector-specific discussions and presentations, as well as networking sessions to facilitate business opportunities and business matching.

Trade and investment representatives in newly opened offices in Mumbai and Chandigarh, along with the existing trade office in Bangalore, will identify specific partnership opportunities for Indian and British Columbian business leaders to discuss at the forum. Finance Minister Michael de Jong opened these two new B.C. trade and investment offices last month.

After the forum concludes, there will be followup events around trade shows, trade missions and bilateral meetings to continue the momentum created by the event.

For more information on B.C.'s trade and investment with India, call 1 888 880-ASIA (2742), or contact the ministry through the website at: www.britishcolumbia.ca


Quotes:

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour -

"India is a rapidly expanding market, and we face tough competition from around the world to gain a foothold for trade and investment as their economy grows. The BC-India Global Business Forum will help us to grow key relationships Premier Clark initiated during her Jobs and Trade Mission last year, and will also give us media exposure so we can tell India what B.C. is about and what we have to offer."

Michael de Jong, Minister of Finance -

"With the largest middle class in the world, India is full of opportunity and our government is working to ensure B.C. is a part of their enormous economic growth. In the weeks, months and years ahead, we're going to redouble our efforts to increase trade and investment with India so we can create jobs here in B.C."

Barj Dhahan, Chair, Canada India Foundation -

"India offers huge export and investment opportunities for B.C. businesses. Likewise, Indian businesses are looking to invest in B.C. The upcoming BC-India Global Business Forum in March 2013 in Vancouver is an exciting and timely gathering which will help to build relationships between B.C. and Indian business leaders."

"While B.C.'s exports to India have dramatically grown in the past two years, I believe we can grow our exports to $ 1 billion per annum within the next few years. I wish to commend Premier Clark and the B.C. government for the opening of the B.C. trade offices in Chandigarh and Mumbai as these offices will be of strategic value in expanding bilateral trade and investment between our province and India."


Quick facts:

* As of October 2012, year-to-date B.C. exports of goods to India were up significantly, by 212 per cent, compared to the same period in 2011.
* As of September 2012, year-to-date overnight customs entries from India to B.C. had increased 9.4 per cent over the same period in 2011.


A backgrounder follows.


Contact:
Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 356-8177
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Canada India Foundation releases book by former Indian President Abdul Kalam at Sringeri Community Centre  

Toronto, November 29, 2012: Canada India Foundation (CIF) chose the reinauguration of the Sringeri Community Centre, renovated with a $240,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, as the occasion for its release of the book “Prosperity and Peace for the 21^st Century” by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

The occasion marked the launch of Canada India Foundation as a publisher. The book, whose publication had been planned in collaboration with Dr. Kalam for the past year, is a compilation of the speeches Dr. Kalam made and discussions that he had with political leaders, academics, youth and community members during his visits to Canada in 2008 and 2010.

Formally receiving its first copy of the book from Dr. V.I. Lakshmanan, the book’s co-author and member of the CIF Board of Governors, Guest of Honour Mrs. Preeti Saran, Consul General of India in Toronto, spoke about Dr. Kalam and his foresight in developing the futuristic vision for India, elaborated in his Vision 2020 document.  Copies of the book were presented by Mrs. Saran to the dignitaries present, including Chief Guest Honourable Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Government of Ontario, MPP Dipika Damerla, former Senator Vim Kochhar, Chair of Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Grant review Committee Dr. Dev Sainani and CIF Charter members (Mr. Rahul Shastri, Mr. Deepak Ruparell, Mr. Vasu Chanchlani, Mr. Ramesh Chotai, Dr. Atul Tolia, Mr. Pankaj Dave, Dr. Terry Papneja and Mr. Laj Prasher). Dr. Lakshmanan provided a compelling account of Dr. Kalam’s visits, the range of his interactions, from Prime Minister Harper to young Indo-Canadian children, highlighting his infectious energy and passion for both India and Canada-India relations.  .

Earlier, Minister Chan was joined by Mrs. Saran and other dignitaries, including MP Patrick Brown in cutting the ribbon to formally open the Sringeri Community Centre, with enhanced stage, lighting, sound and seating, made possible by the grant from Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Minister Chan spoke to the audience about his own experiences as a non-English speaking first generation immigrant, tracing his journey to his present role as a Minister in the government of Ontario. Dr. Sainani presented a congratulatory OTF plaque to the Trustees of the Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation, Dr. Lakshmanan and Mr. Ravi Subramanian. Thanking the audience of nearly 250 people, who received complimentary copies of Dr. Kalam’s book, Mr. Ravi Subramanian welcomed community organizations, cultural groups and others to take advantage of the Centre’s enhanced facilities.

ABOUT 

The Sringeri Community Centre, part of the Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation (SVBF), Canada, located at 80 Brydon Drive, caters to the social, cultural and spiritual needs of the large and diverse Indo-Canadian and other communities of Greater Toronto and beyond, providing a venue for music and dance performances, yoga classes, youth camps, senior events and social gathering events.

A leading grantmaker in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives. An agency of the Government of Ontario, OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities.

Canada India Foundation (CIF) is a national, non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization (NGO) to foster support for stronger bi-lateral relations between Canada and India; to educate Canadians on the changing face of India; and to increase the participation of Indo-Canadians in the public policy process in Canada.

• For more information about Canada India Foundation, visit www.canadaindia.org 
• For more information about the Ontario Trillium Foundation, visit www.otf.ca 
• For more information about Sringeri Community Centre, visit www.svbfcanada.com  

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CONTACT Kalyan Sundaram, 416.779.5237 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Canada India Foundation well represented in the delegation accompanying Prime Minister Stephen Harper to India

Toronto, ON, November 5, 2012 – Seven Charter Members of Canada India Foundation (CIF) will be part of the strong delegation of parliamentarians and representatives of business and Indo-Canadian community, accompanying Prime Minister Stephen Harper on his 6 day visit to India, starting November 5, 2012.

Barj S. Dhahan, Chair, Canada India Foundation, who will be part of the delegation, said, “the Prime Minister’s visit to India, following his previous visit in 2009 and the visit by India’s Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2010, is a major milestone in Canada-India relations, coming ahead of the anticipated conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2013”. “We expect that the visit will result in significant progress in cooperation in the areas of energy, mining, agriculture, education and science & technology, specifically in civil nuclear cooperation, which CIF has promoted since the Canada India Energy Forum it organized in 2009”, he added.

Other CIF Members in the delegation, which will visit New Delhi, Chandigarh and Bengaluru , are CIF Co-Chair Deepak Ruparell, Vasu Chanchlani, Aditya Jha, Vikram Khurana, Laj Prasher and Ramesh Chotai.

Canada India Foundation wishes Prime Minister Harper success in his objectives for the visit and urges both Canada and India to take advantage of this visit to implement appropriate measures to encourage mutual direct investment and generate greater bilateral flow of goods and services, while enhancing the public profile of each country in the other.

About Canada India Foundation:

Canada India Foundation is a national not-for-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to fostering support for stronger bi-lateral relations between Canada and India.  Leveraging the individual and collective capabilities of Canadians of Indian Origin and other friends of the Canada India corridor, CIF serves the interests of Canada by advocating deeper engagement with India. Among its many initiatives has been the organization of public forums on sectors such as Energy, Mining, Agriculture and Food Processing. To learn more about Canada India Foundation, please visit www.canadaindia.org

For more information, contact:

Kalyan Sundaram, Executive Director, Canada India Foundation at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (416) 779-5237.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canada-India Foundation successfully hosts its first Agriculture and Food Processing Forum in Vancouver, British Columbia and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Forum aimed at policy-driven growth in two-way trade and investment between Canada and India.

Vancouver, BC  September 17th, 2012 – During September 10- September 13, 2012, Canada-India Foundation hosted the first Canada India Agriculture and Food Processing Forum in Vancouver, British Columbia and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  This public policy forum, aimed to develop policy and strategy framework to enhance two-way trade investments and relations between Canada and India in the agriculture sector, was the third such policy forum organized by Canada India Foundation, after Energy (2009) and Mining and Metals (2010). The theme for this year’s forum was  selected in light of the global concern on food security, the challenges faced by India to ensure food production and distribution to meet the demands of its billion plus citizens, and potential of Canada to work with India in overcoming these challenges.

Dignitaries among the 250 attendees at the forum in the two cities included  Hon. Lynne Yelich, Minister of State, Western Economic Diversification, Government of Canada, Dr. Saumitra Chaudhuri, Member, Planning Commission, Government of India, Mr. Don Stephenson, Canada’s chief negotiator in the free trade (CEPA) discussions with India, Hon. Norm Letnick, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Moira Stillwell, Minister for Social Development, and Hon. Michael de Jong, Minister of Finance, Government of British Columbia, Senator  Asha Seth, Senate of Canada, Mr. Ravi Shankar Aisola, Consul General of India in Vancouver, Hon. Rob Norris, MLA, Government of Saskatchewan, Hon. Bob Trost, Member of Parliament, Canada, Hon. Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver, Hon. Donald Atchison, Mayor of Saskatoon and other prominent delegates from India and Canada. For 4 days, attendees and local delegates gathered and discussed various topics such as food security, attracting trade/investment agriculture, business opportunities in food processing, grain storage/handling, supply chain logistics, cash crops and value added-products,  land resource management, plants and animals and technology enablers. The forum addressed the opportunities and challenges in the agriculture and food processing sector and concluded with a special panel to discuss policy recommendations, which would be presented by CIF to the national and provincial governments of Canada and India.

Barj Dhahan, Chair for Canada India Foundation thanked all the partners whose support made the forum possible, particularly the Presenting Partners, Government of British Columbia and Government of Saskatchewan, as well as RBC Royal Bank of Canada, University of British Columbia, University of Saskatchewan and others.   Dr. V.I. Lakshmanan, co-chair of the forum added, “the high caliber of the participants the discussions should result in policies conducive to greater trade in the agriculture and food processing sector, contributing to the projected $15 billion overall bi-lateral trade between Canada and India.”

For more information about the Canada India Foundation Agriculture & Food Processing Forum, please visit www.canadaindia.org or contact Kalyan Sundaram or 289-291-0277.

About CANADA INDIA FOUNDATION

Canada India Foundation is a national, non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization formed in 2007 to foster support for stronger bi-lateral relations between Canada and India; to educate Canadians on the changing face of India; and to increase the participation of Indo-Canadians in the public policy process in Canada.

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Deepak Chopra is Fourth Recipient of CIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award

Toronto, April 21, 2012: Renowned author and speaker on human empowerment, Deepak Chopra, became the fourth recipient of Canada India Foundation (CIF)’s prestigious CIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award, at a glittering Gala held at the Allstream Centre in Toronto. Among the more than 500 people in attendance were the Premier of Ontario, the Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Federal Minister of State (Sport), Honourable Bal Gosal and India’s Consul General in Toronto, Mrs. Preeti Saran.

Deepak Chopra joins a select company of previous winners: Sam Pitroda - pioneer of India’s telecom revolution, Tulsi Tanti – champion of green energy and leader in deployment of wind power and Ratan Tata - India’s most respected industrialist and philanthropist. "We honour Deepak Chopra for his tremendous contributions to human empowerment and mind and body wellness. He embodies all that is positive in the Indian Diaspora and is a deserving recipient of the CIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award", said Ajit Someshwar, Chair of the Gala.

Delivering the Keynote Address, Premier McGuinty thanked members of Canada India Foundation and the prosperous Indo-Canadian community for making the investment and creating jobs, thereby lending shape to a strong economy and a caring society. Making a connection with India’s first Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, he said, “When we see the life of service and joy, it is only natural that we think of Dr. Deepak Chopra”. The Premier, who earlier had a private meeting with Deepak Chopra, quoted from Chopra’s own sayings in his speech and congratulated him on receiving the award.

Representing the Government of India, Consul General Preeti Saran spoke of the event-filled Year of India in Canada the past year and thanked Premier McGuinty for spearheading the celebrations. Recalling the partnership of the Consulate with CIF on the Energy Forum in 2009 and Mining Forum in 2010, she added “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the CIF on their annual gala and look forward to working with them closely in building stronger India-Canada ties”.

Minister Bal Gosal conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Right Honourable Stephen Harper and Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Culture, Honourable Jason Kenney, congratulating Deepak Chopra and lauding CIF for its contributions. Earlier, the evening had begun with a video message of greetings from His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada.

After being presented with the CIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award, Deepak Chopra held the audience captive as he blended his personal experience growing up in India, the spiritual tradition originating from India’s great sages and the great contribution of India’s own ayurveda system of medicine to the well-being of people around the world.  He announced that, as with previous recipients of the Award, the award money will go to a worthy cause, in his case, the Akshaya Patra Foundation, an organization based in India that runs a daily meal program for underprivileged children across the country.

Earlier, speaking on CIF’s mission to promote greater participation of Indo-Canadians in the public arena, Rahul Shastri, National Convenor, CIF, said "The Indo Canadian community is comprised of many public minded and qualified individuals who yearn the opportunity to serve the community, the Province and the Nation. CIF must continue to seek changes in the status quo make-up within our public institutions such that they eventually become reflective of the society in which they operate."

The evening audience also enjoyed UK based Bhangra singer H Dhami, was held spellbound by the aerial dance performance of A2D2, and applauded the presentation of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by Senator Asha Seth to two respected CIF Members Ramesh Chotai and Dr. V.I. Lakshmanan.

Other prominent political dignitaries present included Ontario’s Minister of Government Services, Honourable Harinder Takhar, Co-Chairs of the Canada India Interparliamentary Friendship Group, MPs Patrick Brown and Devinder Shory, and Senator Con Di Nino. The strong presence of several of Ontario’s major universities, each with its own India initiative, was highlighted when its senior representatives were invited on stage to present the award trophy to Deepak Chopra.

CIF is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization established in 2007 to foster support for stronger bi-lateral relations between Canada and India; to educate Canadians on the changing face of India and to increase the participation of Indo-Canadians in the public policy process in Canada. CIF's founding members include entrepreneurs, senior Canadian business executives and top tier professionals.

For more information, write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Kalyan Sundaram at (289) 291-0277

Canada India Foundation announces Award Gala on April 21, to honour Deepak Chopra with the CIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award

Toronto, Canada. February 22, 2012: The spacious and public rotunda of the Toronto Metro Centre formed the setting, as Canada India Foundation triggered off planning activities for its Annual Award Gala with a Press Conference to announce Allstream Centre as the venue of the Gala and renowned author and speaker, Deepak Chopra, as the recipient of the CIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award.

Welcoming the attendees, CIF’s National Convenor, Rahul Shastri, spoke of the origin and objectives of CIF as public policy focused organization, committed to stronger Canada-India relations. As the conceiver of the CIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award, Ajit Someshwar, past National Convenor and Chair of this year’s Gala, recollected the origins of the Award and the conversation between him and the Award’s primary donor, Vasu Chanchlani, who committed an endowment of $1 million for the fund, complemented by monetary commitments from several CIF Charter Members. “Apart from the obvious individual accomplishments, the main criteria for the Award recipient would be that he/she makes the global Indian diaspora proud”, he said.

Honourable Harinder Takhar, Ontario’s Minister for Government Services and Mrs. Preeti Saran, Consul General of India in Toronto headed the list of distinguished guests who attended the Press Conference. The event was moderated by CTV National News Anchor, Omar Sachedina and CP24 Anchor, Farah Nasser, who will also be the emcees for the Award Gala, scheduled to take place on April 21, 2012. Both Minister Takhar and Mrs. Saran spoke highly of CIF’s role in highlighting public policy aspects of Canada India relations through its numerous initiatives. Mr. Takhar hailed the 500,000 strong Indo-Canadian community in Ontario as the most successful Indian diaspora anywhere. Mrs. Saran reiterated her government’s commitment to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations now taking place between the two countries, leading to an anticipated growth in bi-lateral trade from $5 billion to $15 billion.

Deepak Chopra will be the fourth recipient of the CIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award, after Sam Pitroda, Tulsi Tanti and Ratan Tata. A strong proponent of alternative medicine, he is one of the world’s most respected speakers and writers on human empowerment and has been recognized as one of the 100 Heroes and Icons of the century. As with previous Award recipients, Mr. Chopra will receive a trophy, on display at the Press Conference and custom designed for CIF, along with a cheque for $50,000, payable to a charitable institution of his choice. “The selection of the Award recipient is made by an Award selection committee nominated by CIF Members, who must make a tough choice among a number of eligible people of Indian origin around the world”, said Rahul Shastri.

The Press Conference also provided the opportunity for the advance announcement of the latest in CIF’s theme-focused public policy forums, the Canada India Agriculture and Food Processing Forum, scheduled to take place in Vancouver and Saskatoon on September 10-13, 2012. Manoj Pundit, who had co-chaired the previous two forums, Canada India Energy Forum 2009 and Canada India Mining and Metals Forum 2010, emphasized the need for forums such as these to bring forth public policy priorities for Canada and India into focus. He thanked Mrs. Saran and the Government of India for ensuring a high caliber delegation to both forums and said that he looked forward to an equally powerful delegation to the Agriculture Forum.

In addition to CIF Charter members, some of the other prominent attendees included Satish Thakkar, President of Indo-Canada Camber of Commerce, Douglas Goold, Director, Asia Pacific Foundation Canada and Vinod Munshi, President of the IIT Alumni Association. The event was covered by CP24 and Omni Television as well as a number of Indo-Canadian print media.

Individual and group tickets for the CIF Award Gala can be purchased online at the CIF website www.canadaindia.org. For event sponsorship and corporate table details, please contact Kalyan Sundaram at (289) 291-0277 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CIF is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization established in 2007 to foster support for stronger bi-lateral relations between Canada and India; to educate Canadians on the changing face of India and to increase the participation of Indo-Canadians in the public policy process in Canada. CIF's founding members include entrepreneurs, senior Canadian business executives and top tier professionals.

PRESS RELEASE

Deepak Chopra To Receive

“CIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award”

TORONTO, CANADA - January 19, 2012 Canada India Foundation (“CIF”) is pleased to announce that the recipient of the CIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award will be Deepak Chopra. He is one of the world’s leading thinkers on human empowerment and has been heralded as one of the Top 100 Heroes & Icons of the Century by Time Magazine. “The award will be presented to Mr. Chopra at the Annual Award Gala, in Toronto, on April 21, 2012” said Barj Dhahan, Chair of CIF.

CIF created the CIF Chanchlani Global Indian Award to recognize an individual who demonstrates global leadership, vision and professional excellence, which has made people of Indian origin around the globe proud of their heritage. In addition to a specially commissioned trophy, the Award includes a sum of $50,000 which is given to a charity of the recipient’s choice. As the fourth recipient of the Award, Deepak Chopra joins a select company of previous winners: Sam Pitroda ~ pioneer of India’s telecom revolution, Tulsi Tanti ~ trailblazer in the deployment of wind power & Ratan Tata ~ India’s most respected industrialist and philanthropist. “By his words & deeds Mr. Chopra exemplifies those qualities of the Global Indian Award recipient”, said Rahul Shastri, National Convenor of CIF.

“The Award will be presented at one of the most anticipated events of the year, the CIF Annual Gala. The annual gala has been graced in previous years by prominent leaders including The Right Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper, India’s former President Dr. Abdul Kalam, Federal Ministers Jim Flaherty and Jason Kenney, the official Leader of the Opposition Michael Ignatieff and well-known author Shashi Tharoor”, said Ajit Someshwar, Chair of this year’s Gala.

CIF is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization established in 2007 to foster support for stronger bi-lateral relations between Canada and India; to educate Canadians on the changing face of India and to increase the participation of Indo-Canadians in the public policy process in Canada. CIF's founding members include entrepreneurs, senior Canadian business executives and top tier professionals.

Contact: Kalyan Sundaram

W: (289) 291-0277

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.canadaindia.org 

PM announces the appointment of seven new Senators

“I am pleased to announce the addition of seven remarkable Canadians to the Senate of Canada,” said Prime Minister Harper. “All appointees have distinguished themselves in their fields of endeavour and in their service to fellow citizens.”

JoAnne Buth fills a vacancy in Manitoba, Norman Doyle a vacancy in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ghislain Maltais a vacancy in Quebec, Dr. Asha Seth a vacancy in Ontario, Betty Unger a vacancy in Alberta, and Vernon White a vacancy in Ontario. Jean-Guy Dagenais will fill a vacancy in Quebec.

All new appointees have pledged to support the Government in its efforts to make the Senate more democratic and accountable, including legislation to limit the term lengths of senators and encouraging the provinces and territories to hold elections for Senate nominees. The new appointees also look forward to working towards a strong economic recovery and safer communities across the country.

“I look forward to working with these talented individuals in Parliament,” added the Prime Minister.  “Their skills and experience will be of great value as our Government works on making this country as prosperous, safe and strong as it can be.”

Biography - Dr. Asha Seth

Asha Seth

Dr. Asha Seth is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in Family Practice, Toronto, Ontario. 
Recognized as a pioneer and patient advocate in the medical field, Dr. Seth received the prestigious Council Award from the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2010.

An active philanthropist, Dr. Seth is involved in a number of charities serving local and international communities. She founded the NIMDAC Foundation, which raised funds for organizations such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Foundation for the Physically Disabled Persons, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. She is also National Board Director of CNIB.  Dr. Seth was also actively involved with St. Joseph's Health Centre Foundation, assisting with initiatives to help raise funds for the Health Centre's new patient care wing.

Dr. Seth completed her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at The King Georges Medical College in India and completed her resident training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in the U.K. Upon moving to Canada, she continued her training at St. Joseph’s Health Centre and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Dr. Asha Seth resides in Toronto, Ontario with her husband Dr. Arun Seth.  She has two loving daughters, Dr. Anila Seth Sharma, an Endocrinologist and Angie Seth, an award winning Journalist and News Anchor, OMNI Television, and four loving grandchildren.

Dr. Seth’s Senate appointment is effective immediately.

PRESS RELEASE – Canada India Foundation announces Canada India Agriculture and Food Processing Forum 2012, to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia in September 2012

Vancouver, November 23, 2011 – Canada India Foundation (“CIF”) is pleased to announce the Canada India Agriculture and Food Processing Forum 2012 (“Forum”), a 2-day event scheduled to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in September 2012,  with support from the Government of British Columbia, bringing together leading representatives from Canadian and Indian national and regional governments, private sector leaders and industry analysts, for a policy oriented discussion on opportunities for enhancing trade in the Agriculture and Food Processing sector between the two countries.

Announcing the Forum in Chandigarh, India, Barj Dhahan, CIF’s Chair said “CIF has successfully organized two previous Forums, Canada India Energy Forum 2009 and Canada India Mining and Metals Forum 2010, which highlighted the potential for growth in trade in the respective sectors and need for a policy framework to facilitate it”. He added, “We are very happy to have the committed support of the Government of British Columbia, enabling us to announce and initiate planning for the event. We have also begun consultation with Canadian and Indian governments, as well as provincial governments of Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba in Canada and state governments in India”.

At a reception party hosted in her honour by Scot Slessor, the Consul General of Canada in Chandigarh, the Premier of British Columbia, Christy Clark, extended invitations to the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to attend Forum. She said, "I have met the Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and will be meeting the other two Chief Ministers Parkash Singh Badal of Punjab and Prem Kumar Dhumal of Himachal Pradesh. I will invite them to come to Vancouver to participate in the Forum. India and Canada can benefit mutually from the Forum. India has crop losses and BC can help in that as it has expertise in agriculture produce and also with modern techniques of storage and transportation besides on site processing". "Other potential areas of interaction with the Indian states would include mining techniques, clean energy and life sciences, human resources and eco-tourism” she added.

The two-day Forum will be organized along the lines of the previous two Forums, with a Plenary Session followed by specific topical sessions concluding with a Going Forward roundtable, recommending policies for implementation by the stakeholders. Some of the topics covered will be: Food Security, Food Transportation and Storage, Water Management and Treatment, Environmental Considerations, Regulatory Considerations, Agro-forestry, Biotechnology, The Pacific Gateway and Agro-Financing among others.

About CANADA INDIA FOUNDATION

Canada India Foundation is a national, non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization formed in 2007 to foster support for stronger bi-lateral relations between Canada and India; to educate Canadians on the changing face of India; and to increase the participation of Indo-Canadians in the public policy process in Canada.

For advance sponsorship and other inquiries, please contact Kalyan Sundaram, Executive Director, CIF at (416) 779-5237 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  

Vancouver, July 23, 2011: The Premier of British Columbia, Honourable Christy Clark was the Chief Guest at a special barbecue get together organized at the house of Sarup Mann, Regional Convenor, Canada India Foundation (CIF). The event was co-hosted by CIF Chair, Barj Dhahan. CIF Charter Members Amrik Sangha and Anita Dalakoti were also present and were joined by MLA Dr. Moira Stilwell, Lorne Mayencourt, Dr. John Hepburn, Dr. Mario Pinto, Hon. Herb Dhaliwal, Const. Amrik Virk among several prominent members of the Greater Vancouver community.

Toronto, Canada, September 1, 2011: Canada India Foundation (CIF) applauded the Government of India and representatives of India’s civil society for achieving an amicable resolution to the introduction of the Ombudsman (Lokpal) Bill in the Indian parliament.

“The peaceful, democratic and transparent manner in which both parliament and the followers of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, dubbed Team Anna, dialogued the merits of their versions captivated not just the people living in India, but people around the world, who followed the events through print, visual and social media” said Barj Dhahan, Chair, CIF. “The complete lack of any violence from either side during the entire 12 days that Mr. Hazare fasted to get Parliament to consider his version (Jan Lokpal Bill) is a testimony to the people of India and to the spirit of the “Father of the Nation”, Mahatma Gandhi”, added the Co-Chair of CIF, Deepak Ruparell.

Rahul Shastri, National Convenor, CIF congratulated the Indian Parliamentarians for their leadership in bringing about a peaceful conclusion to this matter and commitment to bring about the necessary legislative changes to tackle corruption, enabling the Indian people and economy to progress. “This was a shining example of how public policy can be debated and implemented.” he said.

Canada India Foundation (CIF) is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization formed to foster support for stronger bi-lateral relations between Canada and India; to educate Canadians on the changing face of India; and to increase the participation of Indo-Canadians in the public policy process in Canada. 

Canada India Interparliamentary Friendship Group joins hands with Canada India Foundation to condemn Mumbai blasts

July 14, 2011, Toronto: The Canada India Interparliamentary Friendship Group (CIIFG) joined hands with Canada India Foundation (CIF) to condemn the bomb blasts that occurred in Mumbai, India on Wednesday.

Conveying his condolences to the families of the victims of the blasts, Patrick Brown, Co-Chair, CIIFG, echoed the statement issued by Prime Minister Stephen Harper stating “Canada remains united with the Government and people of India in their fight against terror”. A frequent visitor to India, including most recently last January, Mr. Brown also expressed hope that the perpetrators of the crime will be identified quickly and brought to justice.

Speaking on behalf of members of Canada India Foundation, Barj Dhahan, Chair, offered his strong support to the Indian people, who he said, have shown remarkable resilience in refusing to let acts of terror divide them. He added that the need of the hour is for all countries to denounce these and similar acts unequivocally and for individuals not to let extremism dictate their actions.

Canada India Foundation is a national non-profit, non-partisan public policy organization dedicated to stronger ties between Canada and India and to increase the participation of Indo-Canadians in the public policy process in Canada. www.canadaindia.org

Canada India Interparliamentary Friendship Group is made up of Members of Parliament in the House of Commons as well as Senators, who share a common passion for India and its people and are working as parliamentarians to develop close ties with their counterparts in India.

Prime Minister Harper’s statement on the Mumbai blasts can be found in the link below:

http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=3&featureId=6&pageId=49&id=4201

For more information, please contact Kalyan Sundaram, Executive Director, CIF, at (416) 779-5237. 

http://www.international.gc.ca/media_commerce/comm/news-communiques/2011/199.aspx

Minister Fast Updates Indo-Canadian Business Community in Vancouver on Latest Round of Trade Talks

Trade agreement with India has potential to boost Canadian economy by at least $6 billion 

(No. 199 - July 11, 2011 - 6:50 p.m. ET) The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today met with Indo-Canadian business leaders in Vancouver, British Columbia, to discuss the Harper government’s progress in enhancing economic cooperation between Canada and India. It was the Minister’s second round table with Indo-Canadian businesspeople in the space of a week. Minister Fast also met with key representatives in Mississauga, Ontario, on Thursday, July 7.

“Last week in Ottawa, Canadian and Indian officials held a successful round of trade talks, where they made progress toward a comprehensive economic partnership agreement,” said Minister Fast. “We are pursuing markets abroad to protect and strengthen the financial security of hardworking Canadians. We see opportunity in India and want to seize it.”

“The Indo-Canadian business community fully supports the government as it moves ahead with this historic opportunity to deepen trade and investment relations with India,” said Robin Dhir, President and CEO, Twin Brook Developments. “We will be working very closely with Minister Fast as the negotiations progress.”

A Canada-India joint study in 2010 concluded that free trade could expand Canada’s economy by at least $6 billion and increase bilateral trade with India by 50 percent.

An agreement with India could deliver significant commercial benefits to companies across many sectors of the Canadian economy, including forestry, mining, manufacturing, fishing and seafood products, and agriculture. The recent throne speech underscored the government’s commitment to completing negotiations in 2013.

In 2010, bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and India totalled $4.2 billion, an increase of 73 percent since 2004.

In 2006, Canada launched an ambitious trade agenda, opening doors for Canadian business by concluding new free trade agreements with eight countries: Colombia, Jordan, Panama, Peru and the European Free Trade Association member states of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Canada India Foundation held a very productive discussion with the representatives of the Government of India at the negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEPA) Agreement with Canada, at a dinner meeting held on July 2 at the Boulevard Club in Toronto. The meeting with Mr. Anup Wadhawan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and chief negotiator for the Indian government and Ms. Shubha Sarma, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, was organized courtsey of the Indian Consulate in Toronto, CIF was represented by Aditya Jha, Vasu Chanchlani, Atul Tolia and Kalyan Sundaram. Also participating in the meeting discussions were R. Venkatesan, Vice-Consul (Commercial), Indian Consulate, Akhil Tyagi, Area Director, South Asia, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Government of Ontario, and Prashant Pathak, Managing Partner, ReichmannHauer Capital Partners.

At the meeting, CIF reiterated its support for expediting the CEPA negotiations and offered its services in any advisory capacity that might be required for the benefit of both countries.

July 1, 2011

Canada India Foundation is pleased to announce its new Board of Directors for the upcoming term, 2011-2012, effective July 1, 2011.

The new Board consists of:

Chair                                                       Barj Dhahan (President,  Sandhurst  Holdings)  

Co-Chair                                                 Deepak Ruparell (President, Silver Hotel Group)  

National Convenor                                 Rahul Shastri (Senior Partner, Kagan Shastri LLP)  

Regional Convenor (East)                    Vikram Khurana (CEO, Prudential Consulting)  

Regional Convenor (Central)                Dr.  Asha Seth  (Gynaecologist/Obstetrician)  

Regional Convenor (West)                   Sarup Mann (President, Ansatel Communications)  

Member of the Board                            Sandeep Lal (President, Metro Label)  

Member of the Board                            Sachin Mahajan (Director, M&A, Canaccord Genuity)  

Member of the Board                             Laj Prasher (CEO, Tortel Communications)  

Member of the Board                             Pankaj Dave (CEO, Manas Metals Inc.)  

Member of the Board                             Anita Dalakoti (Senior Advisor, Sun Life Financial)  

Immediate Past-Chair                            Ramesh Chotai (President, Bromed Pharmaceuticals)  

Immediate Past-National Convenor      Aditya Jha (Chairman, POA Foundation)    

Secretary to the Board                           Dr. Atul Tolia (Diagnostic Radiologist)

Please join me in welcoming the new Board of Directors and in recognizing the great work done by the outgoing Board in highlighting the importance of stronger Canada-India relations and working to promote public policies and develop policy initiatives towards that objective.

Kalyan Sundaram

Executive Director

Canada India Foundation

2939 Portland Drive

Oakville, ON L6H 5S4

Tel: (289) 291- 0277

Cell: (416) 779-5237

Charter Members of Canada India Foundation and business leaders from the Greater Vancouver Area held a very productive meeting with Mr. Scot Slessor,Canada's Consul General  in Chandigarh, India, on June 24, 2011, to discuss business opportunities in North India for Canadian investors. About 30 people attended the meeting, organized by CIF, including CIF Charter Members Barj Dhahan, Sarup Mann and Amrik Sangha and other prominent businesspersons and government representatives including Ron Parmar, Ajit Thandi, Lorne Mayencourt, Susan Dahinten, Verne Dusenbery, Indra Guha and Todd Shewfelt.

The Executive of Canada India Foundation had a fruitful visit to Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 15, 2011 to meet with members of the Canada India Interparliamentary Friendship Group.

The 1st  session of Canada’s 41^st Parliament opened on June 2, 2011, following elections held on May 2, which saw changes in the federal political landscape of the country, with the Conservative Party securing an majority of electoral seats, after two consecutive minority governments and the New Democratic Party surprising all political observers by becoming the official Opposition Party, overtaking the Liberal Party.

It was a clear sign of the importance that all political parties attached to relations with India that, within 2 weeks of the opening of the parliament, 20 members of the all-party Canada India Interparliamentary Friendship Group met with executives of Canada India Foundation over lunch in the Parliamentary Dining Room on June 16, to reconnect and identify priority areas for the two groups to work together in furthering Canada-India relations. Credit for facilitating the meeting and securing the participation of the parliamentarians  in such a short time goes to MP Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie and Chair of the GTA Caucus. In addition to Minister  John Baird, Minister for Foreign Affairs who came in to commend the two groups for their initiative, and Minister Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board, who  also came by to observe the discussions, other participants included Ministers Tim Uppal and Bal Gosal, the first Conservative  Party ministers in the federal government from the Indo-Canadian community, Senator Con DiNino, Senator David Smith, Senator Vim Kochhar, Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deepak Obhrai, other Indo-Canadian MP’s Devinder Shory, Parm Gill and Jinny Sims, GTA MP’s Eve Adams, Bob Dechert , NDP MP from Sudbury Glenn Thibeault and other MP’s representing regions across Canada. Canada India Foundation was represented by its Chair Ramesh Chotai, National Convenor Aditya Jha, Regional Convenor Deepak Ruparell and Members of the Board of Governors Vasu Chanchlani, Dr. V.I. Lakshmanan, Vikram Khurana, Bhim Asdhir, Laj Prasher and Dr. Atul Tolia, and Executive Director Kalyan Sundaram.

Welcoming the Ministers, MP’s, Senators and CIF Members, MP Patrick Brown reiterated the important role Canada India Foundation has played since its inception to advance the India file. He said that the Friendship Group continues to grow in membership and he was looking forward to concrete results to be achieved by the group in the current Parliament. He acknowledged the need for the Friendship Group to be upgraded to Committee status and pointed out that a similar committee exists for China. However, he cautioned that the process to get Committee status for the group might take time and should not deter the group from pushing for progress in important Canada India initiatives. Welcoming the new Members of Parliament to the Friendship Group, along with continuing members of the group, CIF’s Ramesh Chotai and  Aditya Jha tabled some of the priority Canada-India initiatives, including the Free Trade Agreement, Civil Nuclear opportunities, growth in Investor Class immigration, creation of a mirror group in India made up of Indian parliamentarians  and growing Canada’s brand identity in India and promised full support of CIF towards these objectives. V.I. Lakshmanan said that CIF would continue its highly successful theme based forums on business opportunities (Energy – 2009, Mining – 2010) with Infrastructure and Agriculture as likely topics for future forums.

Some of the CIF members accepted an invitation to observe the Question Period before concluding a very productive visit to Ottawa, which is likely to be the first of several periodic meetings between Canada India Foundation and Canada India Interparliamentary friendship Group, charting Canada-India ties.

Toronto, Ontario, June 11, 2011:

Canada India Foundation meets with India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mrs. Preneet Kaur

Canada India Foundation organized a meeting of Greater Toronto’s Indo-Canadian community leaders at the Hilton Garden Inn Airport, on June 11, with the Minister of State for External Affairs, Mrs. Preneet Kaur, who was visiting Toronto as the leader of the Indian delegation to the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBDCanada2011) held on June 9 and 10. The meeting was facilitated through the offices of the Consul General of India in Toronto, Mrs. Preeti Saran, who also graced the occasion.

CIF Executives Ramesh Chotai, Aditya Jha, Vasu Chanchlani, Deepak Ruparell, Surjit Babra, Dr. Atul Tolia, Vikram Khurana, Laj Prasher and Barj Dhahan were joined by community leaders and representatives of Indo-Canadian organizations such as Pradeep Sood, Rana Sarkar, Suresh Madan, Vinay Nagpal, Satish Thakkar, Kam Rathee, Ajit Khanna, Pankaj Mehra, Srinivasan Venkatesh, Balraj Deol, Gurdev Mann and several members of Toronto’s Punjabi community in welcoming Mrs. Kaur on behalf of their respective organizations and the GTA community as a whole.

Addressing the attendees, Mrs. Kaur spoke highly of her interaction with the Indo-Canadian community during her stay in Toronto and exhorted members of the community to maintain and strengthen ties to India. Stating that she was an Indian, Punjabi and Sikh in that order, and proud of all those associations, she sent a message to members of the Indian diaspora to see themselves as people of Indian origin ahead of their linguistic and religious identities. Following her address, Mrs. Kaur joined the participants for lunch and spent considerable time and in interacting on a person-to-person basis with every participant.

Toronto, June 8, 2011:

The Chanchlani India Policy Centre, a joint initiative of Canada India Foundation, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and The University of Waterloo, was formally launched on June 8, 2011 at a special ceremony and reception hosted at the Boulevard Club in Toronto, Canada, with a special address from the High Commissioner of India to Canada, His Excellency Shashishekhar Gavai.

The concept for The Chanchlani India Policy Centre (“Centre”) had its genesis when Mr. Vasu Chanchlani, Indo-Canadian philanthropist and Charter Member of Canada India Foundation, a non-profit public policy organization, expressed his intent to contribute to an endowment whose objective would be to acquire the necessary intellectual rigour for public policy development in the Canada-India corridor. “While there have been several academic and other initiatives to understand and enhance various aspects of Canada-India relations, a public policy research and development focused initiative had been an unfulfilled requirement”, Mr. Chanchlani said.

Canada India Foundation and Mr. Chanchlani quickly identified University of Waterloo as the most suitable partner for this initiative and, in September 2010, signed an agreement to establish the Chanchlani India Policy Centre in the Faculty of Arts at University of Waterloo, in one of the last acts of His Excellency David Johnston as President of University of Waterloo, before he took over as Canada’s current Governor General. As part of the agreement, Mr. Chanchlani committed to a contribution of $1 million and Canada India Foundation committed an additional $ 1 million, towards a target endowment of $10 million for the Centre.

Keeping the endowment target in mind, Ken Coates, Dean, Faculty of Arts at Waterloo found another reputable partner for the Center in Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, a non-profit think tank created by an Act of parliament to strengthen Canada’s relations with Asia, which committed to match the contributions by Vasu Chanchlani and Canada India Foundation. "India, as one of the major economic powers of the 21^st century, has to be one of the cornerstones of Canada’s Asia policy and we are very happy to be part of an initiative that will enable Canada to develop and implement a comprehensive policy vis-a-vis India” said Yuen Pau Woo, President and CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

The invited audience for the event, hosted by the three partnering organizations, also included India’s Consul General in Toronto, Mrs. Preeti Saran and leaders such as Mr. Sabi Marwah, Vice Chairman and COO of Scotiabank, former High Commissioners of Canada to India, Mr. Peter Sutherland and Ms. Lucie Edwards, Area Director of South Asia, Government of Ontario, Mr. Akhil Tyagi and many others. Addressing the audience, High Commissioner Gavai complimented the three organizations for coming together to further the public policy discourse in Canada. In a special surprise announcement, Mr. Chanchlani informed the audience that he has committed another $ 1 million towards setting up a similar center in India for Canada-India public policy and was actively working with a prestigious Indian institution towards that commitment.

The official launch of the Centre was preceded by a working session the same day, titled “Mapping Canada-India Research Agenda", to establish priority areas for the Centre to address. The nearly 40 experts on India, including former Canadian High Commissioners to India, a former Indian ambassador, representatives from Universities of Waterloo, York, Carleton, Ottawa, Wilfrid Laurier and Toronto, entrepreneurs from relevant industry sectors such as mining and environment,  and corporate as well community leaders,  who shared their valuable perspective in 3 parallel sessions. The session also set the tone for the broad consultative mode of operation of the Chanchlani India Policy Centre, something both noticed and appreciated by the participants. “We hope that the subsequent and ongoing policy work done at the Centre will provide valuable input to both Canadian and Indian Governments to bind the two nations together, not only on trade matters, but also on a variety of areas of mutual interest” said Aditya Jha, National Convener of Canada India Foundation.

The Centre will fund India Chairs at Waterloo, Visiting Chairs for India scholars, Research Fellows, public lectures and conferences. "The Centre lays the groundwork for a new era for Canada-India initiative with active participation of the civil society through Canada India Foundation and Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada," said newly appointed Director of the Centre, Dr. Ryan Toohey, "Waterloo is truly honoured to be part of the comprehensive effort to improve Canada's connections to India."

Statement from New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton outlining the party's perspective on the development of Canada-India relations.

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