India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal Pays Tribute to Air India 182 Victims in Toronto During Canada Trade Visit

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal paid tribute at the Kanishka Memorial in Toronto during his Canada visit, honouring the victims of the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing before addressing members of the Indian diaspora at a community reception hosted by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.

Goyal visited the memorial at Humber Bay Park, where Canada’s first Air India Flight 182 memorial was unveiled in 2007. The memorial honours the 329 victims killed when Air India Flight 182, also known as Kanishka, was bombed on June 23, 1985. Most of the victims were Canadians of Indian origin.

Kanishka Memorial Visit Marks Solemn Moment

In a post on X, Goyal said he stood in “quiet remembrance” of the victims and met family members who shared stories of loss and resilience.

“Paid tribute today at the Kanishka Memorial at Humber Bay Park, standing in quiet remembrance of the victims of the Air India Flight 182 bombing,” Goyal said.

“The mid-air bombing remains one of the most tragic acts of terrorism in aviation history. I also met with family members of several victims who shared their stories of loss and resilience. India & Canada are cooperating to ensure that such a tragedy never repeats.”

The tribute came during a wider official visit aimed at rebuilding momentum in India-Canada relations after years of diplomatic strain. Goyal is leading a delegation of about 150 Indian industry leaders in Canada from May 25 to 27, with meetings in Ottawa and Toronto focused on trade, investment and the proposed India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, known as CEPA.

Diaspora Reception Highlights India-Canada Trade Push

Later, Goyal attended a community reception hosted by the Consulate General of India in Toronto, where he addressed members of the Indian community and spoke about India’s economic growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Always a delight to interact with Indians who carry the Tricolour in their hearts, thousands of miles away from home,” Goyal said.

Always a delight to interact with Indians who carry the Tricolour in their hearts, thousands of miles away from home… 🇮🇳🇨🇦

At the community reception hosted by the Consulate General of @IndiaInToronto, Canada, highlighted India’s remarkable economic transformation under the… pic.twitter.com/BsozAvzUSK

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) May 27, 2026

He said major opportunities are emerging across trade, investment, innovation and people-to-people partnerships through CEPA. The proposed agreement has returned to the centre of bilateral engagement as both countries seek to expand economic cooperation after a period of strained relations.

Goyal also said the Indian diaspora remains a “living bridge” between the two nations, citing its contribution across business, technology, academia, innovation and community leadership.

Relations Show Signs of Reset

The Toronto events followed high-level meetings in Ottawa with Prime Minister Mark Carney, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald.

Sidhu said Canada is working with India to advance CEPA and strengthen economic ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies. Goyal has said both sides are aiming for an early conclusion of the agreement, with trade and investment expected to form a major pillar of the renewed relationship.

Goyal’s visit also builds on Carney’s recent trip to India, which was widely seen as a successful step toward thawing relations between the two countries. The focus now appears to be shifting toward practical cooperation in trade, innovation, agriculture, clean energy and diaspora engagement.