WR Desk: Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has announced a referendum event in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on October 18.

The announcement comes as India and Canada seek to rebuild bilateral relations. The event has attracted attention amid efforts by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to deepen their strategic partnership.

The proposed cooperation covers trade, energy, technology, security and people-to-people ties. Meanwhile, Canada has dispatched its largest trade delegation to India in more than three decades.

Timing of the referendum event is important as more than 300 Canadian business representatives are visiting India from October 12 to 17. Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu is leading the delegation.

As Canada seeks to double bilateral trade with India by 2030, the referendum could undermine the move.

The fifth round of negotiations began in Ottawa earlier this month. Energy, critical minerals and aerospace have emerged as key areas of cooperation.

Other priority sectors include clean energy, technology, life sciences, agriculture and forestry. The negotiations follow discussions between Sidhu and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. However, political analysts believe the announcement by the Sikh community for referendum may provoke the Indian government and the bilateral relations between the two governments may deteriorate again.

India-Canada relations deteriorated following the June 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the murder.

SFJ, led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has organised similar referendum-style events previously. The organisation advocates an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan.

Edmonton event draws additional attention: The October 18 event comes ahead of Alberta’s province-wide referendum scheduled for 2026. Alberta voters are expected to consider questions concerning the province’s future relationship with Canada.

The proposed referendum could include whether Alberta should remain part of Canada. Another possibility is beginning a legal process that could eventually lead to separation.

The SFJ event and Alberta’s referendum are separate initiatives. However, their timing has drawn attention amid renewed India-Canada diplomatic and economic engagement.