Explained: This article explains the political background, key decisions, and possible outcomes related to Explained : Politics Insider: Carney secures uranium supply deal with India and Its Impact and why it matters right now.
Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Prime Minister Mark Carney secured a $2.6-billion deal to supply Canadian uranium to India today.
He also launched talks on a comprehensive trade deal with New Delhi as he wrapped up a four-day visit to the subcontinent aimed at repairing years of ruptured ties.
Steven Chase and Mark Rendell report that the uranium deal was one of 10 commercial agreements touted during the trip and valued at a combined $5.5-billion. Unlike the uranium contract, many had been made public months ago.
The Prime Minister, who has set a goal of doubling non-U.S. trade over the next decade, said co-operation with India would make both countries more self-reliant.
“With this new partnership, we will not stop until the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Canada Strong are reached,” Carney said, using a Hindi phrase for “self-sufficient India.”
Carney, touting an approach he calls “values-based realism,” has largely sidestepped questions over meddling by New Delhi in Canada.
That includes the allegations India was behind the 2023 murder of a Canadian Sikh activist. Last year, a public-inquiry report flagged India as the “second most active country engaging in electoral foreign interference in Canada” after China.
Also today, Carney met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, holding a private tête-à-tête for 35 minutes and a 90-minute meeting with their delegations.
They launched talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement after a meeting of chief negotiators in New Delhi. The Prime Minister’s Office said it’s a deal that would support Canada’s goal of more than doubling two-way trade with India to $70-billion by 2030.
Also today, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand declined to comment on a Globe and Mail report that Indian consular staff operating in Vancouver supplied information to aid in the assassination of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Steven Chase, Mike Hager and Greg Mercer report that she cited the fact that the issue is before the courts.
“I am not going to comment on an investigation that is occurring now and a trial that is also in process stemming from an issue that is alleged to have arisen some time ago.”
Significantly, however, Anand distanced herself from a senior Canadian government official who last week told reporters in a background briefing that India had ceased all foreign interference in Canada.
And in other news, Canada may split a multibillion-dollar contract for 12 new submarines by buying an equal number from Europe and South Korea, two senior government sources say.
Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, in partnership with the government of Norway, and Seoul-based Hanwha Ocean are short-listed for the contract that could cost Canada upward of $24-billion.
Robert Fife reports that the senior government sources say Ottawa is looking at buying six Type-212CD submarines to be built by Germany’s TKMS. Those submarines would patrol the Atlantic Coast, the sources said.
Ottawa would also acquire six Hanwha KSS-III Batch-II submarines. The sources say those submarines would be located on the Pacific coast and could be deployed to the Indo-Pacific region.
Final proposals for the contract to build 12 diesel-electric submarines were submitted to the federal government today. A decision is expected to be rendered by April 4 at the earliest.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands after the presentation of agreements and joint statements in New Delhi on Monday.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
Ottawa boosting support, but warns Canadians in Middle East to prepare contingency plans: Global Affairs Canada is increasing staff to help Canadians caught up in the Middle East conflict but also urging them to fend for themselves. There is an overview here on developments in the ongoing conflict.
Ottawa announces funding for Toronto firm’s Greenland mine project: It’s a rare instance of Ottawa investing in critical-minerals extraction outside this country’s borders.
Ontario promises completed construction on Ring-of-Fire roads by 2031: Premier Doug Ford said the project is being fast-tracked and is five years ahead of schedule so Ontario can “lead the world in critical minerals.”
Canadian manufacturing sector grows for second straight month: The growth was logged in February as new business increased despite weak export sales and rising inflation pressures, data showed today.
Ottawa says provinces should pay for nurse practitioners: Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel issued the directions to her provincial counterparts in a recent letter that has not been publicly released.
Pierre Poilievre says he offered to go to the U.S. to make Canada’s case: The federal Conservative Leader also said, in an interview, that he “can’t stand” U.S. President Donald Trump’s talk about Canada becoming the 51st state, doesn’t like Trump’s tariffs and doesn’t like the way he’s treating Canada.
On our radar
Commons Break: The House of Commons is on a break this week. MPs will return March 9. The Senate is also off for the week.
Prime Minister’s Day: In New Delhi today, Mark Carney met with India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. After the meeting of about an hour, the pair witnessed a presentation of signed agreements. Carney also attended an official lunch with the Prime Minister. In the early evening, Carney departed for Sydney, Australia – the second of three countries he is visiting on his current trip.
Party Leaders: In London, England, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is meeting with MPs and members of the business community. Poilievre, on a visit to England and Germany this week, was also scheduled to attend a CANZUK reception. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is in her B.C. riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands meeting with constituents. No schedules released for other party leaders.
Ministers on the Road: In Medicine Hat, Alta., Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski announced federal funding to support the commercialization of products that utilize artificial intelligence.
In Toronto, Energy Minister Tim Hodgson attended the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention where he delivered keynote remarks, made a critical-minerals announcement and participated in a signing ceremony. He was also scheduled to make announcements with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt.
New Ford chief of staff: Ontario Premier Doug Ford has a new chief of staff. The premier’s office announced today that Travis Kann will take on the job on March 6, replacing Patrick Sackville, who has been chief of staff since December, 2022. Kann has served as principal secretary in the premier’s office and head of Ontario-U.S. engagement. The former deputy communications director to Ontario’s deputy premier and health minister joined the premier’s office in September, 2020 as executive director of communications. Ford has been premier since 2018.
Quote of the Day
“Our government has promised to build Canada into the strongest economy in the G7. Mining is fundamental to that objective.” – Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, during a keynote address today, at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto.
Question period
True or False: Multiple nuclear weapons were once deployed in Canada.
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
Iran is the new front in the fight against the authoritarian bloc
Happily, Ottawa seems to understand what’s at stake. Prime Minster Mark Carney’s statement on the weekend gave Canada’s support to the military strikes and put this country’s sympathies where they belong, with those suffering under Tehran’s tyranny. “Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against Iran’s oppressive regime.”
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
For Israel, war again
Safe in Canada this weekend, watching a new war unfold on CNN, I have something else ringing in my ears. The words of a Canadian-Israeli who told me over coffee in Tel Aviv: “Every time you hear the sirens, that’s the sound of someone wanting to kill me.”
— Marsha Lederman, Columnist
The NDP hopes its revival will come through public grocery stores and zero votes in Quebec
The NDP should have a singular focus for the short- and medium-term: finding a way back to official party status. Everything else can come later. In fact, everything else will only come later if the NDP is once again a party with at least 12 seats in the House of Commons.
— Robyn Urback, Columnist
Go deeper
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The answer to today’s question: True. In 1958, Canada purchased two squadrons of Bomarc ground-to-air anti-aircraft missiles from the United States. John Diefenbaker, the Progressive Conservative prime minister of the day, declined to equip them with nuclear weapons provided by the United States. Lester Pearson, who succeeded Diefenbaker as prime minister, took a different approach. On Dec. 31, 1963, Bomarcs in Ontario and Quebec were equipped with the warheads. A year after Pierre Trudeau became prime minister in 1968, the decision was announced to end the nuclear-weapons deployment, and the devices were returned to the United States.