VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The 51st G7 Summit this year is being hosted by Canada in the city of Kananaskis, Alberta. This marks the second time the city has hosted the summit and the seventh time Canada has assumed the presidency of the group. Along with the seven core members — Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the UK, the US, and the European Union — other nations and leaders have been invited to join, most prominently the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision by Canadian PM Mark Carney to invite Mr. Modi comes at a time of incredibly turbulent relations between the two countries.
In the aftermath of allegations that the Indian government orchestrated the murder of Khalistan advocate Hardeep Singh Nijjar at a Surrey Sikh temple in 2023, this invitation doesn’t come without controversy and backlash, especially from the Sikh community. This, on top of further allegations of foreign interference and the surveillance of the former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh by Indian agents, has led to reactions from politicians such as Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal criticizing the welcoming of Modi as well as the federal NDP calling on the Carney to rescind the invitation to the Indian leader along with multiple other Sikh groups across the country. Although it’s evident Mr. Carney has heard and is aware of the discontent and animosity towards Modi, he still defends the invite, emphasizing “that it makes sense to have the leader of the world’s most populous country around the table when there are big challenges to discuss.”
The goal of the summit this time around revolves around three core priorities: “protecting our communities and the world,” “building energy security and accelerating the digital transition,” as well as “securing the partnerships of the future.” All three goals are critical to Canada’s future success, and it’s clear that PM Carney thinks India will play an integral role on this path, especially in the face of such uncertainty with the current US administration. In 2023, bilateral trade between the countries was valued at $9.36 billion Canadian dollars, with Indian exports to Canada worth CA$5.56 billion and Canadian exports to India valued at CA$3.80 billion. As of 2025, people of Indian origin make up approximately 5.2 percent of Canada’s total population, based on recent estimates. Indians comprise 18.6 percent of the immigrant population between 2016 and 2021, which translates to roughly 246,000 Indian immigrants during that period. The two are deeply intertwined with one another both economically and socially, whether they like it or not, and it’s clear that Carney aims to repair this fractured relationship so he can finally help steer it to where it needs to be in order to accomplish these pressing goals. This effort makes perfect sense when you consider that India is the world’s largest democracy, home to over 1.4 billion people, and the world’s fastest-growing major economy. As a key actor on the international stage, securing a stable relationship with India’s future is crucial for Canada and, for that matter, for everyone.
An important order of business for India and Canada would be discussing energy and the role of minerals and special metals in the transition towards clean energy expansion. Currently, India targets a 45 percent reduction in emissions intensity from 2005 levels by 2030, along with electric vehicle goals, including 30 percent EV penetration for private cars, 70 percent for commercial vehicles, and 80 percent for two- and three-wheelers by 2030. Although India is making considerable progress by achieving 40 percent non-fossil power capacity early, meeting its Paris Agreement goal ahead of schedule, and implementing the PM Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme, which provides 300 units of free electricity via rooftop solar to 100 million households, it still faces significant challenges.
Coal still accounts for 49.66 percent of India’s capacity (229.43 GW) and 75 percent of its electricity generation, complicating the phase-down. If they are to meet the ambitious transition goals they’ve set for themselves, they will need a healthy supply of lithium, cobalt, and nickel for batteries, as well as copper and aluminum for infrastructure and rare earth elements (REEs) for other projects, such as wind turbine and EV engine manufacturing. Canada, which has a plentiful supply of minerals and precious metals, could aim to work out new trade deals with India, in turn diversifying their export market, which is critically important in the face of President Donald Trump’s tariffs (during 2023, more than half of Canada’s mineral exports were sent to the US). Canada could consider expanding the Canada-India Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration to include investments in Indian electric vehicle (EV) and solar manufacturing hubs, as well as formalizing the Canada-India Critical Minerals Partnership Agreement (CMPA) to encompass more specific projects. Additionally, Canada, a global leader in battery recycling, could invest in Indian recycling infrastructure, expediting the EV adoption process globally.
However, clean energy expansion is incredibly complex and will require resources beyond just raw materials, such as technological advancements and the utilization of AI. For example, AI can optimize mineral supply chains by predicting demand, streamlining logistics, and reducing waste —a crucial step in such a large and resource-hungry country. Natural Resources Canada already uses AI for resource management, which could be adapted for India’s National Critical Minerals Mission through joint research and development. AI can also enhance the efficiency of solar and wind energy for both countries through predictive analytics for weather patterns, grid balancing, and maintenance scheduling. Solar and wind power account for 71 percent of all renewable energy sources throughout India, so achieving a breakthrough in efficiency would be game-changing. The World Economic Forum notes that every one percent efficiency gain in energy demand creates $1.3 trillion in value by 2050, potentially fast-forwarding the country at an unprecedented pace, which makes it a top priority for the conference.
To have meaningful discussions and make progress with one another, the third cornerstone of the summit cannot be ignored; “protecting our communities and the world.” Mark Carney has made it clear that he wants to secure a partnership of the future with India in many ways, including those mentioned above, but it would be incredibly difficult to pursue those avenues in the current climate of relations. If the two parties want to move forward in achieving economic prosperity and productivity, among other objectives, the current situation and allegations of transnational crime must be addressed and resolved. Liberal MP and former Cabinet Minister Karina Gould stated that “human rights should be on the agenda” when the two leaders meet. Carney and his team will have to stand firmly with their stance on protecting the rights and safety of the Sikh-Canadian community, as well as balance a professional understanding of India’s security concerns. Once a middle ground is found and a conversation is started to address these grievances, only then can they begin to lay the foundations for other goals in a meaningful way.
As the summit progresses and time passes, it becomes clear that the future of Canada and India hangs in a delicate balance. The choices made here will shape not only their relationship but also the well-being of communities tied to both. Whatever path they take, it will be a defining moment for their future in a rapidly changing world.
Joven Heer
Joven is a recent high school graduate based in Vancouver, Canada, and will be starting college in the fall. He loves biking, playing the piano, watching soccer, traveling, eating new food, writing, and keeping up with politics!
