Canada’s leader of opposition from the Conservative party is facing criticism from the country’s Hindu community over his decision to withdraw from a Diwali event. Pierre Poilievre reportedly cancelled his participation in the event in the wake of Canada’s diplomatic row with India over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Blasting Poilievre in a letter, the Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC) said he and other Conservative leaders abandoned the Diwali event that had been marked for the last 23 years. OFIC President Shiv Bhasker said the opposition leader even failed to provide any explanation for the same.

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"The sudden withdrawal of politicians from this event, prompted by the current diplomatic situation between Canada and India, has left us feeling betrayed and unjustly singled out," the letter by the OFIC said.

"The letter represents the collective voice of the Indo-Canadian community, especially Hindu Canadians of 850,000 strong, a community that is educated, prosperous, law-abiding, and family-oriented," the letter added.

The group said Poilievre’s move exposed how politicians in Canada saw Hindus as ‘outsiders’, ironic in a country that prides itself for multiculturalism.

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"This is not just about a cancelled Diwali event or an event where the politicians renege on their commitment to attend; it is about a much deeper and insidious problem. Racism and discrimination are thriving in Canada, and this latest development has laid bare the systemic biases that still exist,” Bhasker stressed.

Now, the group has warned the Conservative Party of potential repercussions in the upcoming polls.

"Remember, we will remember our friends at the time of exercising our franchise," it said.

The polls are due in Canada next year, and Poilievre’s Conservative Party is expected to win.

"It's going to cost you a lot! You kicked the opportunity of yourself being PM of Canada," an X user warned the opposition leader.

Even local Canadians deplored Poilievre’s move.

Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman said it was "absolutely disgraceful" that the Conservative leader chose not to attend the event.

(With inputs from agencies)

Canada’s leader of opposition from the Conservative party is facing criticism from the country’s Hindu community over his decision to withdraw from a Diwali event.

Canada’s leader of opposition from the Conservative party is facing criticism from the country’s Hindu community over his decision to withdraw from a Diwali event. Pierre Poilievre reportedly cancelled his participation in the event in the wake of Canada’s diplomatic row with India over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Blasting Poilievre in a letter, the Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC) said he and other Conservative leaders abandoned the Diwali event that had been marked for the last 23 years. OFIC President Shiv Bhasker said the opposition leader even failed to provide any explanation for the same. Also read: Indian parents sending students to Canada, read envoy's warning on poor conditions, Khalistan terror link "The sudden withdrawal of politicians from this event, prompted by the current diplomatic situation between Canada and India, has left us feeling betrayed and unjustly singled out," the letter by the OFIC said. "The letter represents the collective voice of the Indo-Canadian community, especially Hindu Canadians of 850,000 strong, a community that is educated, prosperous, law-abiding, and family-oriented," the letter added. The group said Poilievre’s move exposed how politicians in Canada saw Hindus as ‘outsiders’, ironic in a country that prides itself for multiculturalism. Also read: How Canada’s restrictions on Indian students may lead to billion-dollar losses to its economy "This is not just about a cancelled Diwali event or an event where the politicians renege on their commitment to attend; it is about a much deeper and insidious problem. Racism and discrimination are thriving in Canada, and this latest development has laid bare the systemic biases that still exist,” Bhasker stressed. Now, the group has warned the Conservative Party of potential repercussions in the upcoming polls. "Remember, we will remember our friends at the time of exercising our franchise," it said. The polls are due in Canada next year, and Poilievre’s Conservative Party is expected to win. "It's going to cost you a lot! You kicked the opportunity of yourself being PM of Canada," an X user warned the opposition leader. Even local Canadians deplored Poilievre’s move. Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman said it was "absolutely disgraceful" that the Conservative leader chose not to attend the event. (With inputs from agencies)

‘It’ll cost you a lot’: Massive uproar as Canadian opposition leader snubs Diwali event

The head of Canada's main opposition Conservatives quit on Thursday after losing an October election to Liberal <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadas-trudeau-unveils-new-cabinet-with-focus-on-domestic-issues-263495">Prime Minister Justin Trudeau</a>, leaving the party in search of a more effective leader.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chastened-trudeau-to-reach-out-to-opponents-after-canada-election-blow-rules-out-coalition-257800">Andrew Scheer</a> said his resignation was "the best thing for our Conservative Party," adding that he would stay on in his role until a replacement was chosen. Scheer, 40, is a fiscal and social conservative who was first elected at age 25.

Scheer was under pressure over his failure to beat Trudeau, who opinion polls showed was vulnerable after a series of scandals. When pictures of Trudeau in blackface emerged during the campaign, Scheer got a bump in the polls that faded before election day.

It is unclear when the party will elect another leader. The country's most prominent Conservative, Alberta government head Jason Kenney, has no intention of running, said a well-placed Conservative source.

Dustin van Vugt, the Conservatives' executive director, denied a report by Global News saying Scheer quit after it was discovered he had secretly used party money to pay for private schooling for his children.

Van Vugt said the party did indeed pay school costs, but he said all the proper procedures had been followed.

Former Conservative Cabinet minister Peter MacKay, lawmaker Erin O'Toole, now the party's critic for foreign affairs, and former interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose are other potential leadership candidates.

Garry Keller, Ambrose's former chief of staff, said Scheer would have faced a battle to hold onto his job.

"He either had to decide to fight to the end through a leadership race, or he could leave on his own volition. If he had stayed on, it would have been a bloody fight," said Keller.&nbsp;

October's election was the second in a row that the Conservatives lost to Trudeau.

Although <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-election-justin-trudeau-clings-to-power-but-loses-some-of-his-lustre-257402">Scheer won more votes</a>, his support was concentrated in Western provinces that have fewer parliamentary seats than Quebec and Ontario, where Trudeau prevailed.

Conservative critics complained Scheer's personal opposition to abortion and his reluctance to champion gay rights had hurt him among those who live in the eastern provinces of Canada.

"I felt it was time to put my family first," Scheer, a father of five, said when he announced his decision.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-leaders-including-trudeau-macron-caught-mocking-trump-on-camera-266158">Trudeau</a>, who has three children, thanked Scheer for his service and said he understood the difficulties of balancing the job with a family.

Trudeau lost his majority in the election and now must govern with the support of at least one opposition party. One senior Liberal source, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, said chaos in the opposition was always good for the government.

But another well-placed Liberal said a leadership change could be problematic.

The resignation "relieves some of the short-term pressures, but the key question is, who replaces Scheer? If it's a superstar, then we have a problem", said the source.

The head of Canada's main opposition Conservatives quit on Thursday after losing an October election to Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, leaving the party in search of a more effective leader.

The head of Canada's main opposition Conservatives quit on Thursday after losing an October election to Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, leaving the party in search of a more effective leader. Andrew Scheer said his resignation was "the best thing for our Conservative Party," adding that he would stay on in his role until a replacement was chosen. Scheer, 40, is a fiscal and social conservative who was first elected at age 25. Scheer was under pressure over his failure to beat Trudeau, who opinion polls showed was vulnerable after a series of scandals. When pictures of Trudeau in blackface emerged during the campaign, Scheer got a bump in the polls that faded before election day. It is unclear when the party will elect another leader. The country's most prominent Conservative, Alberta government head Jason Kenney, has no intention of running, said a well-placed Conservative source. Dustin van Vugt, the Conservatives' executive director, denied a report by Global News saying Scheer quit after it was discovered he had secretly used party money to pay for private schooling for his children. Van Vugt said the party did indeed pay school costs, but he said all the proper procedures had been followed. Former Conservative Cabinet minister Peter MacKay, lawmaker Erin O'Toole, now the party's critic for foreign affairs, and former interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose are other potential leadership candidates. Garry Keller, Ambrose's former chief of staff, said Scheer would have faced a battle to hold onto his job. "He either had to decide to fight to the end through a leadership race, or he could leave on his own volition. If he had stayed on, it would have been a bloody fight," said Keller. October's election was the second in a row that the Conservatives lost to Trudeau. Although Scheer won more votes, his support was concentrated in Western provinces that have fewer parliamentary seats than Quebec and Ontario, where Trudeau prevailed. Conservative critics complained Scheer's personal opposition to abortion and his reluctance to champion gay rights had hurt him among those who live in the eastern provinces of Canada. "I felt it was time to put my family first," Scheer, a father of five, said when he announced his decision. Trudeau, who has three children, thanked Scheer for his service and said he understood the difficulties of balancing the job with a family. Trudeau lost his majority in the election and now must govern with the support of at least one opposition party. One senior Liberal source, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, said chaos in the opposition was always good for the government. But another well-placed Liberal said a leadership change could be problematic. The resignation "relieves some of the short-term pressures, but the key question is, who replaces Scheer? If it's a superstar, then we have a problem", said the source.

Leader of Canada's main opposition party quits after loss to Justin Trudeau

Andrew Scheer, the head of Canada's opposition Conservatives, on Friday dropped one of his candidates for the Oct. 21 election and faced repeated questions about why he had not revealed that he has dual US citizenship.

Polls show the Conservatives have a chance to beat the ruling Liberals, but his campaign has been on the defensive since Thursday when a newspaper revealed that he is also a US citizen. After the Globe and Mail newspaper broke the news on Thursday, Scheer said he was giving up his American citizenship.

"It's not a big deal to have dual citizenship here in Canada," he told reporters, who asked him whether he had ever filed taxes in the United States or registered for the US military draft at 18.

Scheer instead took aim at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is trying to recover from images showing him dressed in blackface, and accused him of breaking promises to eliminate the budget deficit and make life more affordable.

"When Canadians are looking at what he is offering this election, they know they cannot trust him," Scheer said.

Trudeau told reporters in Quebec City that Scheer needed to be honest with Canadians about his dual citizenship and noted that he had apologised repeatedly for the blackface incidents.

"Mr. Scheer continues to not take responsibility for his choices of the past, his actions of the past, his mistakes of the past," Trudeau said.

In a further setback for Scheer, the Conservative Party announced it had dropped one of its candidates in British Columbia, Heather Leung, for making offensive comments about gays, including that they "recruit" children.

"Heather Leung is no longer representing the Conservative Party of Canada in the riding of Burnaby North-Seymour," the party said in a statement. "There is no tolerance in the Conservative Party for those types of offensive comments."

Her name will still be on the ballot because the deadline has passed to nominate or remove candidates, but she will not receive Conservative support, and should she win, she will not sit with the party caucus in parliament.

Separately on Friday, the federal government said it would appeal a human rights ruling last month that ordered Ottawa to compensate aboriginal children who had been removed from their homes and put into welfare.

Trudeau told reporters that while he agrees with the idea of compensation, the government needed time to consult with its partners. Such talks could not take place during an election campaign, he added.

Andrew Scheer, the head of Canada's opposition Conservatives, on Friday dropped one of his candidates for the Oct. 21 election and faced repeated questions about why he had not revealed that he has dual US citizenship.

Andrew Scheer, the head of Canada's opposition Conservatives, on Friday dropped one of his candidates for the Oct. 21 election and faced repeated questions about why he had not revealed that he has dual US citizenship. Polls show the Conservatives have a chance to beat the ruling Liberals, but his campaign has been on the defensive since Thursday when a newspaper revealed that he is also a US citizen. After the Globe and Mail newspaper broke the news on Thursday, Scheer said he was giving up his American citizenship. "It's not a big deal to have dual citizenship here in Canada," he told reporters, who asked him whether he had ever filed taxes in the United States or registered for the US military draft at 18. Scheer instead took aim at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is trying to recover from images showing him dressed in blackface, and accused him of breaking promises to eliminate the budget deficit and make life more affordable. "When Canadians are looking at what he is offering this election, they know they cannot trust him," Scheer said. Trudeau told reporters in Quebec City that Scheer needed to be honest with Canadians about his dual citizenship and noted that he had apologised repeatedly for the blackface incidents. "Mr. Scheer continues to not take responsibility for his choices of the past, his actions of the past, his mistakes of the past," Trudeau said. In a further setback for Scheer, the Conservative Party announced it had dropped one of its candidates in British Columbia, Heather Leung, for making offensive comments about gays, including that they "recruit" children. "Heather Leung is no longer representing the Conservative Party of Canada in the riding of Burnaby North-Seymour," the party said in a statement. "There is no tolerance in the Conservative Party for those types of offensive comments." Her name will still be on the ballot because the deadline has passed to nominate or remove candidates, but she will not receive Conservative support, and should she win, she will not sit with the party caucus in parliament. Separately on Friday, the federal government said it would appeal a human rights ruling last month that ordered Ottawa to compensate aboriginal children who had been removed from their homes and put into welfare. Trudeau told reporters that while he agrees with the idea of compensation, the government needed time to consult with its partners. Such talks could not take place during an election campaign, he added.

Canada opposition chief pressed on US citizenship, drops candidate for anti-gay comments

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‘It’ll cost you a lot’: Massive uproar as Canadian opposition leader snubs Diwali event

Leader of Canada's main opposition party quits after loss to Justin Trudeau

Canada opposition chief pressed on US citizenship, drops candidate for anti-gay comments