Ottawa (National Times): Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a solemn statement on the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, paying tribute to the lives lost in the 1985 Air India bombing and reaffirming Canada’s commitment to combating terrorism and violent extremism.
“Forty years ago, innocent civilians, including 268 Canadians, were killed in the bombing of Air India Flight 182,” said Prime Minister Carney. “This terrorist attack remains the deadliest in our country’s history — one we must never forget.”
The bombing of Air India Flight 182, which occurred on June 23, 1985, off the coast of Ireland, remains a haunting chapter in Canadian history. It claimed the lives of all 329 people on board and was later revealed to be an act of terrorism planned and executed from Canadian soil.
Carney’s statement emphasized the importance of collective memory and national resolve: “As we mark the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, we remember the victims of the Air India bombing and all others who have lost their lives to terrorism.”
He also pledged Canada’s continued cooperation with global allies to counter such threats. “Canada will continue to work with our allies and partners, at home and around the world, to better detect, prevent, and respond to the threat of terrorism and violent extremism.”
The Prime Minister concluded by reiterating his government’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism: “Canada’s new government unequivocally stands against terrorism, and we will deliver on our mandate of change to keep communities safe.”
Ceremonies were held across the country, including a memorial at Toronto’s Humber Bay Park — the site of a monument dedicated to the victims of Flight 182. Family members, dignitaries, and community leaders gathered to lay wreaths and observe a moment of silence.
This year marks a particularly poignant milestone — four decades since the tragedy — and serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance, justice, and compassion in the face of terror.
