Canada Approving Visas for Criminals: Former Toronto Cop Backs India's Claim

Toronto: Former Toronto Police Sergeant (Detective) Donald Best supported India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's criticism that Canada lacks proper vetting procedures for immigrants and expressed concerns that Canada's visa approval process is flawed, allowing individuals with criminal backgrounds and ties to organized crime in India to enter country.

In an interview with ANI, Donald Best, who is also an investigative journalist, endorsed concerns of India about Khalistani separatists getting political in Canada.

"India's External Affairs Minister has mentioned that Canada is approving visas for people who are criminals and were members of organised crime in India. I believe that it is true. We have absolutely vetting of our immigrants. It seems that so many people who come to Canada and seek refugee status, t only from India but from around world, are fleeing ir own country because y are wanted criminals. I think this is attracting a great number of Khalistani separatists to Canada because y are protected and y find refuge here and ir community is growing...," said Best. 

Ties with Ottawa have seen sharp deterioration with India repeatedly expressing its deep concern about extremism and culture of violence and anti-India activities in Canada and has asked Canadian authorities to take action against se activities. re have been very dramatic changes in Canada since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to office with "unfettered mass immigration" negatively impacting housing, ecomy and social services.

Donald Best slammed Trudeau's policies saying "re is turmoil" in Canada and for a country with a small population of about 40 million, about five per cent of immigrants have come in last about two years.

"We have seen very dramatic changes in Canada since Trudeau and his government took over. We have seen unfettered mass immigration, which is seriously negatively impacting our housing, ecomy, social services, hospitals, and health services. We are a very small country population-wise. We have only 40 million people. But in terms of 40 million people, five per cent arrived within last year-and-a-half to two years...re is a lot of turmoil here. We also had great criticism that for some reason, Khalistani separatists and Sikhs have undue influence and y have attained positions of power and authority at all levels municipal, provincial and national out of proportion to ir population. Many people, including your own External Affairs Minister, talked about how federal government is propped by New Democratic Party, in which opposition leader is Jagmeet Singh, who has appeared with some people associated with Khalistani movement. I have been told that Mr Singh is t allowed in India," he said.

According to Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, over 2,600 organized crime groups are operating in Canada, posing significant threats to public safety and societal stability 2. se groups are involved in various illicit activities, including illicit drug market, violent crime and financial crime.

Indian government has expressed concerns about Canada's perceived leniency towards Khalistani extremists, who are seeking to establish an independent Sikh state.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has ackwledged threat posed by organized crime. However, Canadian government's stance on visa approvals for individuals with links to organized crime remains unclear.

"We have a problem in Canada and part of problem is that Khalistani separatists seem to be able to do whatever y want to do. A few months ago, in a parade in Alberta, y had pictures of convicted terrorists in India who had murdered people. y had se photos on ir vehicles celebrating and venerating se terrorists and ordinary Canadians just look at this and I include many people from India who have been here for decades...Canada has had so many immigration for over hundred years and matter what is happening in your home country...we try to leave behind all this in Canada, that has been our habit, that's t happening anymore with Khalistani separatists..Ordinary Canadians are becoming overwhelmed and it is a shame because it is impacting how y view India and Indians," Donald Best added.

In recent years, Canada has witnessed a surge in Khalistani extremist activities, including violent protests and attacks on Hindu temples. An Indian consular camp at Hindu Sabha Temple in Canada's Brampton witnessed a "violent disruption" on Sunday in Brampton, near Toronto. incident sparked widespread criticism in and outside Canada.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condemned "deliberate attack" on Hindu temple in Canada and said that "cowardly attempts to intimidate" Indian diplomats were appalling and New Delhi expects Canadian authorities to ensure justice and uphold rule of law.

ties between India and Canada took sharp downturn following Canadian leaders making allegations without providing evidence about an assassination on ir soil.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is in Australia, on Tuesday expressed concerns about attack on Hindu temple in Canada, and said incident shows how "political " is being given to "extremist forces" in country.
"What happened yesterday at Hindu temple in Canada was deeply concerning.You should have seen statement by our official spokesperson and also expression of concern by our PM yesterday. That should convey to you how deeply we feel about it," Jaishankar said at a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

Answering ar query, he talked about political given to "extremist forces" in Canada."Let me make three comments. One, Canada has developed a pattern of making allegations without providing specifics. Secondly, when we look at Canada, for us fact that y are putting our diplomats under surveillance is something which is unacceptable. Third, incidents (attack on Hindu Temple) and do look at videos. I think y will tell you in a way in political today which has been given to extremist forces re," Jaishankar said.

India also summoned representative of Canadian High Commission earlier this month and handed a diplomatic te in which government protested in strongest terms to "absurd and baseless" references made to Union Home Minister Amit Shah before Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in Ottawa by Deputy Minister David Morrison.