A citizenship and immigration of Canada application form is shown. (Radio-Canada)
Amy Verma’s business depends solely on the goodwill between India and Canada.
But that relationship has soured since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood in the House of Commons last week and accused the Indian government of being involved in the killing of prominent Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia back in June.
India not only decried the claim, it suspended visa service for Canadians. Canada has issued a travel advisory for India warning of “negative sentiments” toward Canadians and protests.
Verma offers immigration services involving both countries at her Windsor office. Her company is called Earnest Immigration and Citizenship Services Inc.
Verma says she’s seen an immediate impact on her business and fears possible long-term damage.
With tensions running high between the countries, Verma says she’s been forced to halt expanding her business into India — something that’s been in the works for months, and set to take place in October.
“It’s not just that most of us will have a Canadian passport and citizenship … and maybe can get e-visas for travel — but even if we do, we are now questioning ourselves, if this is the right time to go and promote Canada,” questioned Verma. “Certainly not. We just kind of want it to die down a bit and then see what we can do about it.”
Windsor Morning7:35Immigration
The soured relationship between Canada and India continues to impact people living in Windsor. We hear about how it’s impacting local businesses that offer immigration services involving both countries.
Verma spoke with Windsor Morning host Nav Nanwa about her situation and her feelings surrounding the turmoil between India and Canada.
Here is part of that conversation.
When you heard the prime minister’s accusation against India, did you know right then and there that there’d be a fallout impacting you and your business?
Yes, I did. Coming from India, I understood this was diplomacy at its lowest because it’s right or wrong, it’s not for us to decide.
But this was probably not the right time to put it out in the public domain.
Coming from an immigration consultancy, we do immigration services for Canada. My worry was not the temporary restrictions. My worry was the greater concern regarding this sentiment regarding Canada.
Canada being a destination of choice for most Indians, that sentiment is kind of just going south for now.
Amy Verma runs an immigration consultancy office in Windsor, Ont. and was in the process of opening one in India when tensions with Canada mounted. (Amy Verma)
Tell me a bit more about the immediate impact this has had on your immigration service.
We were supposed to travel in the first week of October to open our Indian operations and this brick and mortar space. We were planning for it for months.
My team was travelling from Canada for the inauguration.
We had business meetings set up … we had consultations lined up. The stage was set, employers hired. I had a team hired already on payroll.
We were to be there to inaugurate it and do it in person. And now we’ve had to put that off for an indefinite period of time.
India may be softening its stance on Canadian allegations of assassination
There are signs that India may be softening its stance on the allegations that Indian agents were behind the assassination of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., in June. There have been several instances of Indian officials saying they were open to discussions with Canada, possibly due to pressure from the U.S. and other western governments.
What are you hearing directly from some of those partners that you were dealing with, whether it be the employees that you hired or some of the agencies that you were working with in India?
They’re confused, to say the least.
They don’t want to believe the news … but they have their reasons to worry.
In any business deal, there’s a lot at stake and they cannot put things off indefinitely.
We are receiving reactions of frustration, confusion and just wanting more clarity on what we are really going from here.
It’s just more confusion than clarity at this point.– Amy Verma
Are you hearing from many other immigration companies within the area about similar concerns or similar issues that maybe they’re going through?
Yes, mostly the clients.
They have panicked as well because the day this was announced, I am sure everyone would have faced this in the business. Our phone went crazy. We had phone calls coming in from Vietnam, Philippines, India — we serve all countries … Indian nationals across the globe, not just India.
People were concerned whether this is a threat to Indians, whether this is a threat to a minority group.
It’s just more confusion than clarity at this point.
If you were to be in India right now, would you feel safe?
To be honest, I don’t know, because if someone were to ask me my nationality, then I would be scared because right now I hold a Canadian passport.
But if no one talks about my passport and citizenship, I would be safe.
But I come from a Sikh community, so maybe this rings closer to home, right? I am more scared in terms of where this would go from here. So yes and no. Both what I would say.
WATCH | India may be softening its stance on Canadian allegations of assassination:
Consequences of rising tension with India
India is telling its citizens to exercise caution when travelling to Canada while some Canadian industries worry about the economic fallout from Justin Trudeau’s accusation that the Indian government was behind the killing of a Sikh activist in British Columbia.
And your kids are Canadian citizens. I’m assuming they would have come with you?
Yes.
How are they sort of understanding the situation that’s going on right now?
Yeah, it’s difficult now.
It’s not one of the preferred conversations we want to have at the dining table.
This is a festive season in India. Most people go back home to celebrate with elders, family, extended family.
You find most people going towards India at this time.
Sometimes you don’t want to introduce the problem because it might be too much for their little minds.
They’re Indians by birth, but now Canadian by citizenship.
It’s difficult to go that path with them.
As you wait and see what happens with this situation. Are you pivoting your services in any way based on this waiting game that you’re currently in?
The best we could do, being in the business, was give more information out.
We’re making videos. We are in fact calling our existing clients, letting them know.
Telling them visas are being processed. Canada has not retaliated. Embassies are working, everything’s okay, we are safe. So would you be if you come to Canada.
Just trying to bring more positivity to the whole situation here.
Earnest Immigration and Citizenship Services Inc., is located on Erie Street South in Windsor, Ont. (Amy Verma)
What do you think the long-term implications will be for your business based on the fact that you’ve had to put things on hold?
It’s not very heartening to see what’s happening, but I have a feeling now that long term things would be better because Canada has been a destination of choice for many years now.
In fact, in 2022 we had tripled the number of people coming from India in the last 10 years.
I don’t see this doing permanent damage. But yes, temporary effects are great, but for long-term, I think it’s going to die down. It’s all going to be OK.
HOUSTON (AP) — Brian White scored in the second half to rally the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.
Houston (12-9-8) took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Ezequiel Ponce scored on a penalty kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Ponce’s third goal this season came after Amine Bassi drew a foul on Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite following a video review. It was Ponce’s sixth career appearance, all starts.
Vancouver (13-8-7) scored the equalizer in the 73rd minute when White, who entered in the 60th, used assists from Fafá Picault and Ryan Gauld to find the net for the 13th time this season. Picault’s assist was his fifth, matching his career high for a single season. Gauld’s assist gives him a career-best 13 on the season.
Yohei Takaoka, who had clean sheets in his last three starts, finished with one save in goal for the Whitecaps.
Steve Clark saved three shots for the Dynamo, who remain one point behind Vancouver in the Western Conference standings.
Houston, which was coming off a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, has allowed just 33 goals this season.
Vancouver — 6-2-2 in its last 10 matches overall — leads the all-time series 10-9-6.
The Whitecaps remain on the road to play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday. The Dynamo travel to play Austin FC on Saturday.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Pearce and Nathan Saliba scored in the second half — the first goals of their careers — and CF Montreal rallied for a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution on Wednesday night.
“In the second half, the guys came out a little more ambitious and above all, more connected,” Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois said. “It was a great second half of resilience and fighting spirit. Nathan and Sam were impressive.
“Impressive in covering the gaps and compensating for the teammates, and the individual defending – yes it’s true, it is a lot of weight on their shoulders, but that’s the job.”
New England (8-16-4) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute on Bobby Wood’s third goal of the season. Teenage defender Peyton Miller notched his first assist in his fourth career start and sixth appearance and Carles Gil picked up his ninth of the season. Peyton, at 16 years, 315 days old, is the eighth youngest player in league history to record his first assist.
The Revolution took a two-goal lead in the 35th minute and held it through halftime when 19-year-old Esmir Bajraktarevic took a pass from Gil and scored his third goal of the season and career in his first full season in the league. It was the 73rd regular-season assist in Gil’s career, tying him with Steve Ralston for the most in club history.
Montreal (7-12-10) pulled within a goal in the 54th minute when Pearce scored off a free kick after defender George Campbell drew a foul on New England’s Mark-Anthony Kaye. It was the first goal for Pearce in his third career start and fourth appearance.
“Playoffs are the goal. Maybe it wasn’t in the best form, but in the end, we are picking up a point,” Pearce said. “We came into this game confident, ready to play our own game. Everyone tries their best, whenever the players are called on, we are always ready, and we are always giving it our best.”
Montreal scored the equalizer in the 68th minute on the first career goal by Saliba, a 20-year-old midfielder. Saliba has made 34 starts and 48 appearances with Montreal in his two seasons in the league. Campbell snagged his second assist of the season and the third of his career.
“It’s an incredible feeling, it’s a goal I’ve been waiting for a long time. I’m extremely happy that I was able to score it and that it can help the team take this important point on the road,” Saliba said. “Pearce’s first goal gave us really good momentum and we kept up the pressure to go for a second goal. We got more solid defensively, and we came back ready after halftime, to push for these 3 points.”
Aljaz Ivacic finished with four saves in goal for the Revolution.
Jonathan Sirois stopped four shots for Montreal.
New England beat Montreal 5-0 on the road on Aug. 24.
New England leads the all-time series 16-13-4. Montreal improves to 5-8-2 on the road against the Revs.
The Revolution travel to take on Charlotte FC on Saturday. Montreal returns home to host the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adolis García hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, Cody Bradford pitched seven strong innings after the worst start of his career, and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Wednesday night.
The win kept the defending World Series-champion Rangers alive in the AL West race, trailing first-place Houston by 10 games with 10 to play.
García launched an inside sinker over the left-field wall off Toronto starter Bowden Francis (8-5) after Wyatt Langford singled.
“He swings hard, he swings a lot,” Francis said of García. “I guess the velo was dropping during that time.”
Bradford (6-3) allowed five hits and no walks while striking out six.
The seven shutout innings are the most in a game during his two-year career. He was knocked out of his previous start after allowing career highs in hits (nine), runs (eight) and homers (three) in 3 2/3 innings in a 14-4 loss at Arizona.
“Throughout the week, you’ve got to try and digest what happened, see where I can make adjustments, whether it was just game plan went wrong or just poor execution, or a little bit of both,” Bradford said. “Then you flush it.”
Bradford was perfect through four innings before Alejandro Kirk opened the fifth with a smash back to the mound that caromed off Bradford’s left foot and rolled into right field for a single. It extended Kirk’s hitting streak to a career-high 12 games.
Spencer Horwitz’s double to left-center put runners on second and third with no outs before Bradford retired the next three batters.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider credited Bradford’s “deceptive fastball.”
“When you’re throwing 89, 92, you’ve got to have pretty good deception with that at this level,” Schneider said. “Kept us off balance.”
Kirby Yates pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 31st save in 32 opportunities.
Francis, who took no-hitters into the ninth inning in two of his previous four starts, allowed a double to Marcus Semien, the Rangers’ first hitter of the game. He gave up five hits and one walk in six innings.
Francis has a 1.96 ERA in nine starts with 54 strikeouts and seven walks since being moved back into the starting rotation in late July.
“I don’t even want to get complacent, on cruise control,” Francis said. “Just keep attacking.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was a late scratch with a right middle finger contusion suffered during infield practice. Schneider said the team will get back x-rays on Thursday. Bichette was activated Tuesday following a calf injury and played for the first time in two months, going 2 for 5 with one RBI at the plate. … INF Will Wagner (left knee inflammation) will have the knee scoped on Thursday. Schneider said Wagner should be ready to start spring training. Wagner, son of former major leaguer Billy Wagner, was acquired from Houston at the trade deadline.
UP NEXT
Rangers rookie RHP Kumar Rocker (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his home debut against Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (12-11, 4.02) in the series finale. Rocker allowed one run in four innings at Seattle last Thursday in his major league debut.
