Activities & Achievments

CIF engages political parties, opinionmakers, decisionmakers, thinktanks, media and other groups in promoting its objectives

Its activities include: 

  • Advocating for a strong Canada-India relations that focus on the commonalities and shared values of the two democracies
  • Organising programs such as Know Your MP/MPP that educate and inform Canadians of Indian origin to enable them to better participate in the democratic process
  • Commissioning studies, surveys and reports to meet its mandate
  • Communicating with its stakeholders, supporters, sponsors to raise issues that are pertinent to the bilateral relations between Canada and India and the interests of Canadians of Indian origin
  • Networking with other groups of complementary interests

Speaker Series

Eminent personalities with expertise in a variety of public domain are invited to address members and guests on topic of public policy relevance. These experts are from the political, social, cultural, economic spheres, and have a direct or indirect bearing on the formulation of public policy.

In the first half of 2018, CIF conducted a series of lecture on health and wellness by eminent specialists that included a neurosurgeon, a cardiologist and a cardiac radiologist. The series, while discussing healthcare at a micro level, also gave a glimpse of the challenges at the macro level and the need for policy initiatives required in the sphere

Sectoral Forums

Organizing high-profile public policy forums bringing together ministers, senior bureaucrats, private sector CEOs and leading consultants to discuss policies in focus sectors that enhances trade between the two countries

  • Canada India Energy Forum 2009 (Toronto)
  • Canada India Mining and Metals Forum 2010 (Toronto)
  • Canada India Agriculture and Food Processing Forum 2012 (Vancouver and Saskatoon)
  • Canada India Infrastructure Forum 2014 (Ottawa and Toronto)
  • Canada India Healthcare Summit – 2015 (Toronto)
  • Canada India Healthcare Summit – 2017 (Delhi)
  • Canada India Higher Education Forum – 2018 (Brampton)
  • Canada India Healthcare Summit – 2021 (Virtual)

CIF Global Indian Award

CIF Global Indian Award is presented annually to an outstanding person who has demonstrated global leadership, vision, and personal excellence 

The winners of the Award are

  • Sam Pitroda (2008)
  • Tulsi Tanti (2009)
  • Ratan Tata (2010)
  • Deepak Chopra (2012)
  • NR Narayana Murthy (2014)
  • Subhash Chandra (2016)
  • Swami Ramdev (2017)
  • Sparsh Shah (2018)
  • Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper (2019)

CIF achievements

CIF has engaged with senior officials from Canada and  India, and business leaders of the private to modulate and modify the dialogue between Canada and India.

Some of these interactions include:

  • CIF Members accompanied Prime Minister Stephen Harper on his visit to India in November 2009
  • CIF Members participated in Ontario Premier’s Clean Tech delegation to India in 2010
  • Periodic meetings with visiting federal Ministers from India, especially Ministers of Overseas Affairs, Energy, Commerce, and Food Processing Industries
  • Constant engagement with the Canada India Interparliamentary Friendship Group to highlight areas of importance for the two countries, and emphasize the need for them to work together
  • Invited and hosted 2 visits by former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and organized numerous speaking engagements for him in Toronto, Waterloo, Nigara Falls and Vancouver
  • Hosted Chairman of Wipro, Azim Premji