Transcending the past

The governments and private sectors of Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France – to name only a few – have quickly recognized these rapid changes and have, or are in the midst of doing so, adopted their trade, investment and foreign policies accordingly. [...] Relations were further tarnished in the 1980s due to elements within the Canadian Sikh diaspora that sought to foment support in Canada for terrorist activities in the Punjab. [...] Instead, there have been a handful of minor initiatives such as the conclusion of a Foreign Investment Protection Agreement in 2007 and the continuation of a Science and Technology (S&T) agreement concluded by the Martin government in 2005. [...] It is critical, therefore, for politicians and bureaucrats in Ottawa to examine the history of the bilateral relationship as they assess their approach to the Indian government. [...] The latter example was a product of Cold War politics whereby Ottawa, Poland and India were selected to represent the -- 2 -- Transcending the Past: A New Vision for Indo-Canadian Relations interests of the West, the East bloc, and the non-aligned movement in monitoring the 1954 Geneva Conference between France and North Vietnam.