Story of Air India bombing should be 'embedded' in Canada's history, say Bob Rae
AHAKISTA, Ireland — Since the day that Air India Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland 40 years ago, it has not been fully recognized as a Canadian tragedy, Ambassador Bob Rae said in an interview here.
Article content
Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, was tasked with reviewing the Air India terrorism case 20 years ago after two suspects were acquitted of all charges in twin bombings on June 23, 1985.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Less than an hour before a B.C.-made suitcase bomb detonated on Flight 182, killing all 329 aboard, two Japanese baggage handlers died when a Vancouver suitcase tagged for another Air India plane exploded at Tokyo's Narita Airport.
Article content
Article content
'That was one of the main things that I said in my report that I feel very strongly is that from the very beginning of the event, it was seen as somebody else's problem,' Rae said Sunday, after visiting the memorial in this quiet village on the west coast of Ireland.
Article content
'It really was seen as sort of an event affecting the Indian community, ignoring the fact that the vast majority of the people on the flight were Canadians.'
Rae said that 'there had been a real failure to recognize the level of extremism' that led to the unprecedented act of terrorism.
Article content
'It was Canadians who built the bomb, Canadians who planned it,' he said. 'There was a huge degree of denial in the community that this was true. Many other theories were floated.'
Article content
Article content
His report in November 2005 called for a public inquiry into the intelligence failures and investigative problems both before and after bombings. After Conservative Stephen Harper was elected prime minister months later, he appointed retired Supreme Court of Canada Justice John Major to head a broader judicial inquiry instead.
Article content
Article content
While both measures increased recognition of Canada's worst mass murder, 'the narrative of what took place is still not embedded in the country,' Rae said.
Article content
'We still have a lot of work to do make sure it's taught in schools and people understand this was the worst civil aviation disaster, proportionately every bit as important as 9/11.'
Article content
Working on his report, 'had a big impact on me. It really affected me emotionally, because families had a tremendous sense people weren't listening, they didn't understand the story, and didn't realize what it was,' Rae said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Iranian Canadians and others watch and worry after U.S. strikes on nuclear sites
Iranian Canadians and Jewish groups turned worried eyes to the Middle East on Sunday, as U.S. strikes against three Iranian nuclear sites raised fears of escalating violence. Nimâ Machouf, a member of a Montreal Iranian women's association, said family members in Iran are living 'from one bomb to another.' 'I'm very worried because this will only accelerate the violence in the region,' she said in a phone interview. 'It will further aggravate the problem and take us further away from peace.' Machouf, who is also an epidemiologist and former NDP candidate, believes the strikes will only hurt the people who are fighting to free themselves from Iran's repressive regime. Attacks from other countries means that Iran's people 'are not protected by their government, nor protected by others, by the international community,' she said. 'So people feel abandoned by everyone, everywhere.' Story continues below advertisement 0:50 Iran's UN envoy accuses Netanyahu of 'hijacking' U.S. foreign policy The United States inserted itself in Israel's war against Iran early Sunday as it launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. Police in Toronto and Vancouver have published messages on social media platform X, confirming an increase in police presence in both cities while authorities monitor the situation in the Middle East. The Toronto police post said that more police presence 'can be expected wherever necessary,' while Vancouver police said more officers and resources will be deployed to 'certain places of worships, cultural and community centres, and diplomatic buildings.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Conflicts in the Middle East are thousands of kilometres away, but they reverberate closely in our diverse community and impact many peoples' sense of safety,' the post from Vancouver police said, adding that more officers have also been deployed to make sure protests 'remain lawful.' Story continues below advertisement 'We're listening to local faith leaders and community representatives from countries impacted by the conflicts … Our priority is your safety.' Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on social media that U.S. military action was designed to alleviate the 'grave threat' Iran's nuclear program represents to international security. 'Canada has been consistently clear that Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,' he wrote. 1:42 Israel says world should 'thank' U.S. after strikes on Iranian nuclear sites But Carney said the situation in the Middle East was 'highly volatile,' and urged the parties to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution. The interim president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs described Iran's nuclear program on Sunday as a 'grave danger to global peace and security.' 'Eliminating this threat is an essential step toward achieving a safer Middle East and a more secure and peaceful world,' wrote Noah Shack, who urged the federal government to 'stand strong against the Iranian threat.' Story continues below advertisement Kaveh Shahrooz, a lawyer and a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said many Iranians are worried about the impact the U.S. decision will have on civilians. 'I think there's quite a bit of (concern) simply because there's a lot of unknowns,' he said. Shahrooz said Iran's regime offers virtually no protection to its own citizens in the form of air raid sirens or shelters, and internet has been cut off. 'So there's a lot of fear about what we will find out once internet connection is restored and we're able to talk to our families again,' he said. Shahrooz said feelings among Canada's Iranian diaspora vary, from anger at the strikes to support for U.S. actions. 'Among the people who are not supportive of Iran's regime, I think there are some who are cheering and who are saying this was long overdue,' he said. 'And they're happy to see the Iranian regime's nuclear program effectively dismantled and to see that regime humiliated.' On the other hand, Machouf called any suggestion that Israel will 'liberate' Iran's people a 'masquerade' and said regime change must come from within. Gur Tsabar, a spokesperson with Jews Say No to Genocide, said a rally called 'Hands Off Iran' was organized for Sunday afternoon in Toronto to demand sanctions on Israel and a two-way arms embargo. He described recent Israeli and American actions in Iran as 'beyond disturbing.' Story continues below advertisement Tsabar said the rally scheduled for Sunday afternoon is co-organized by 16 groups, including the Iranian Canadian Congress, Palestinian Youth Movement, Jews Say No to Genocide and a number of labour unions.
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
After U.S. strikes in Iran, Torontonians with family in Iran, Israel worry for loved ones
Social Sharing U.S. strikes on Iran this weekend are reverberating in Toronto, as with some in the city fear for their loved ones in the Middle East while others protested outside the U.S consulate in reaction. On Saturday, the U.S. military attacked key Iranian nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, the latest development in an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Mina Morshed, a Toronto woman who has family in Tehran, told CBC TV's Rosemary Barton Live that her parents and sister are in Tehran and she spoke to them a few days ago. She said she has tried to tell them that they are not alone. "I am worried about my parents, family, friends," Morshed said. WATCH | Iranian Canadian in Toronto worries for family in Tehran after U.S. strikes: Iranian Canadian says she's worried about family, hopes for peace 4 days ago Duration 6:04 Those with family in Israel have similar concerns. Laurent Attali, a Toronto-born Montrealer now living in Etobicoke, said he has been trying for days to get his two daughters and their families, who live near Tel Aviv, out of Israel. He said he bought them two sets of plane tickets that were cancelled by the airlines. Attali said the latest plan is for them to go by bus from Tel Aviv to the Amman airport in Jordan, but it's not a good solution, as Amman is considered hostile to Israelis because of Palestinian supporters who live there. He said he thinks the Canadian government could charter a boat or plane from Israel to get Canadians people out. Now, Attali said he has been glued to the television to figure out where the bombs are being dropped in Tel Aviv to see if the sites are near where his family and friends live. "For us, since that evening, we have been 10 to 15 hours a day [watching] the TV. We are all the time at the TV," he said. Protestors gather outside U.S. consulate Sunday Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered outside the U.S. consulate on Sunday afternoon to protest U.S. military action in Iran. Organizers of the "Hands Off Iran" rally said in a media advisory that the demonstrators condemn Western involvement in the conflict, and are also calling on the Canadian government to sanction Israel and to implement an arms embargo on Israel. Parsa Golesorkhi, an organizer of the rally, said he has been watching his hometown of Tehran get bombed in what he called an "unprovoked, illegal and criminal act of aggression" by Israel and now, the United States. "We are here first of all to condemn this aggression against our people — and we are not just as Iranians, but standing with our allies from different communities, from the Palestinian community, from the Jewish community," Golesorkhi said. Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, based in Toronto, said attacks on Iranian nuclear sites are justified given the danger that they pose to the world. "The Iranian nuclear program poses a threat not just to Israel but to the broader Middle East and indeed the world," he said. "This is a dangerous regime and the world is safer without them having access to nuclear weapons." Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a post on X, said on Sunday that the U.S. military action was "designed to alleviate" threats posed by Iran, but the situation in the Middle East remains "highly volatile." "Stability in the region is a priority," Carney said. "Canada calls on parties to return immediately to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis."
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Canadian ambassador says there's a 'good path forward' to a trade deal with the U.S.
Social Sharing Canada's ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman said she "firmly" believes that both countries could reach a trade deal within the 30-day deadline discussed at the G7 summit in Alberta last week. "We can't do anything to force the U.S. side to come to a deal, but we do think we have a good path forward if we're able to take it," she said during an interview on Rosemary Barton Live that aired on Sunday. Hillman said it's "too soon to tell" whether all U.S. tariffs imposed on Canada will be removed, and she stopped short of saying whether the federal government is willing to accept the continuation of some tariffs. "These are things that will work themselves out in the next number of weeks," she said. Canada is fighting for "open trade and stability" for Canadian workers and businesses, Hillman said during the interview. WATCH | Canadian ambassador to U.S. discusses ongoing trade talks: Canadian ambassador to U.S. 'firmly' believes in path to trade deal 4 hours ago Duration 9:16 Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with Canadian Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman about the ongoing negotiations between Ottawa and Washington. Hillman gets expanded role in Washington Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed Hillman as Canada's chief negotiator with the U.S. amid heightened trade tensions, CBC News has learned. This role comes in addition to her duties as Canada's ambassador to the U.S. Hillman previously worked on the team negotiating the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term and as Canada's chief negotiator for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Her expanded duties now position her in bilateral talks as U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer's counterpart. Trade and defence talks continuing Since Carney and Trump set the 30-day deadline while meeting at the G7 in Kananaskis, Alta., on June 16, Hillman has had three meetings with her U.S. counterparts — one immediately following the leaders' bilateral, the second on the following day with Greer and another on Friday that included Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who is also the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade. More talks are planned throughout this week. The conversations with the U.S. are focused on different topics, including fentanyl, border security and Arctic defence, although the leaders are focused on tariffs. Hillman said it's still unclear whether defence and trade will be part of one deal coming within the next 30 days. Trump has said "many times" that he likes tariffs, Hillman said. "It's up to Canada to demonstrate we can achieve the same goals with the United States through other means that don't necessarily involve these punishing tariffs, especially on strategic goods." WATCH | PM may raise counter-tariffs on U.S. steel, aluminum if deal delayed: Canada to limit steel imports, may hike U.S. counter-tariffs next month 3 days ago Duration 2:20 Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced limits to foreign steel imports in a bid to prop up Canada's steel industry, which has been hit hard by the U.S. trade war. Canada may hike counter-tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum if a deal isn't reached by July 21. Steel tariffs still at 50% Just days after Canada and the U.S. set a 30-day deadline, Carney signalled he's willing to go higher with Canada's retaliatory tariffs if no agreement is reached. Canada's counter-tariffs on steel will go up or down, depending on trade progress by July 21, in response to U.S. metal tariffs that are now at 50 per cent. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly told CBC Power & Politics host David Cochrane that Canada is taking "measures like [it's] never done" in the free-trade era to protect the steel and aluminum sectors.
