Ottawa, Ontario - 15 August 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement to mark the 67th anniversary of India’s independence:
“Today, I am pleased to extend my best wishes to the more than one million Canadians of Indian heritage and all those celebrating the 67th anniversary of India’s independence.
“Canada and India have long-standing and positive bilateral relations based on mutual interests and shared values of democracy and pluralism. Our strong and dynamic relationship is rooted in deep people-to-people ties. India is one of Canada’s largest trading partners, the second-largest source of international students in Canada, with new admissions continuing to increase every year, and our third-largest source country of immigrants.
“Here at home, Canadians of Indian descent contribute greatly to the prosperity, culture and social fabric of the country, and have been instrumental in fostering closer ties between Canada and India.
“On behalf of all Canadians, I wish all those celebrating today a happy and festive Independence Day.
