Canada Sets Bold Agenda for G7 Summit, Faces Backlash Over Modi Invite
OTTAWA — With just days to go before Canada hosts the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney has outlined his government’s top priorities: global peace and security, energy resilience, and the formation of strategic international partnerships.
At a press conference on Parliament Hill, Carney’s office confirmed that Canada will use the June 15–17 summit to focus on:
- Combating foreign interference and transnational crime
- Strengthening wildfire response efforts
- Enhancing energy security and supply chains for critical minerals
- Promoting responsible development and application of artificial intelligence
- Opening new markets and securing large-scale infrastructure investments
India Invitation Stirs Controversy
Canada’s decision to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked domestic backlash. The RCMP has accused the Indian government of involvement in criminal activities targeting Sikh activists in Canada, including a high-profile assassination in British Columbia two years ago.
Despite the allegations, Carney said India’s inclusion is vital to broader peace discussions and coalition-building. In addition to G7 members—the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the EU—other invitees include:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Australian PM Anthony Albanese
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is still considering her invitation.
Human Rights vs. Diplomacy
Criticism has been swift. The NDP and Sikh advocacy groups have accused the government of prioritizing economic diplomacy over justice, especially given Canada’s strained relationship with India following the assassination and allegations of interference.
In response, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand emphasized that the summit will not interfere with the RCMP’s criminal investigations.
“Inviting leaders to the G7 does not diminish our commitment to the rule of law or the independence of Canadian investigations,” she said Saturday.
Anand did not clarify the criteria for guest invitations but affirmed the summit’s focus on serious global economic and security challenges.
This will be President Donald Trump’s first official visit to Canada during his current term in office.
Analysts note that the summit planning has been compressed due to the recent transition from former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the subsequent election cycle. Nonetheless, Carney aims to leverage the summit to position Canada as a central voice in stabilizing international relations and modernizing the global economy.