Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, on Saturday, said that terrorist groups would not be given any quarter even as the country stepped up security at airports and other vital installations as recommended by the Kanishka inquiry commission. Mr Kenney was talking to the families of the victims of the Air India aircraft bombing, most of them of Indian origin. The compensation package would be worked out fast, said the minister, who met them on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Mr. Kenney sought the support of Indian-Canadian community in curbing the activities of banned Sikh groups. A large number of Sikh radicals have taken shelter in Canada.
Mr. Kenney also invited comments on the report from of the families and leaders of Indian-Canadian community and said that similar meetings would be held in Montreal and Vancouver
“The government is committed to implement recommendations made by Justice John Major inquiry commission as far as feasible in a reasonable period of time,” he said and promised to make sure “we drive forward with real change, and the bureaucracy will not be allowed to scuttle them.”
More than 20 families of the Kanishka victims told the minister that the government must implement the report without delay and involve the families in the process.
In his 3200-page report, Kanishka inquiry commissioner John Major had criticised the way successive governments treated the families.
Ms. Lata Pada, whose husband and two daughters died in the tragedy, said: “If the government is sincere about the support for families, then they must implement the recommendations without delay to help prevent a similar tragedy .”
