America
Canadian PM hails Indian diaspora
Toronto, Aug 18
Indo-Canadians are the largest
and most successful Indian diaspora anywhere on this earth, Canada's
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.
On a visit to the BAPS Shri
Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto on Monday, Harper said: "In this
uncertain and dangerous world, it is most comforting to know that Canada
has certain friends like India."
"Canada's relationship with
India is special because despite the enormous differences between our
two countries, we have a growing economic relationship," said the prime
minister, the Toronto Sun reported.
The Conservative Party leader said Indian immigration to Canada increased 35 percent since his government took office in 2006.
"We
have welcomed over 300,000 permanent residents from India. At the same
time, nearly 200,000 Indian immigrants have gone on to become Canadian
citizens - nearly double the number under the previous government,"
Harper said.
The prime minister praised the temple as "one of the greatest pieces of architecture in our land".
It was Harper's third visit to the temple since becoming the prime minister.