The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, the Financial Times reported that the government of India told the Trudeau government that 41 Canadian diplomats have been given a week to leave India. If true, this is a much greater deterioration in relations between our two countries. India has warned its citizens against travelling to Canada. It has stopped visa services with Canada, and trade negotiations have been suspended.

Leader, Canada is home to one of the world’s largest communities of people of Indian origin. Could you confirm that the Financial Times story is correct? Does your government have a plan to manage this worsening situation?

The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted?