Canada tells UN it’s ’taking robust action’ to disrupt threats against Sikh activist

Assurances come after UN investigators call on Canada to do more

Canada told the UN in a letter that it is 'deeply concerned by the threats against Moninder Singh, his family and his work' and is taking 'robust action to detect, disrupt and deter transnational repression.'

Peter Zimonjic (new window) · CBC News

The federal government has written to the UN to say it remains deeply concerned about the threats facing B.C.-based Sikh activist Moninder Singh and is taking action to disrupt all credible threats made by by foreign actors against those on Canadian soil.

The assurances come after five UN special rapporteurs wrote to Canada (new window) in June asking for answers, and urging action, in order to prevent what they said was an imminent threat to the lives of Singh and his family.

Aside from asking to accelerate the investigations into the allegations and to hold perpetrators accountable, the rapporteurs also wanted to know if Canada has assessed the threat, what they have done about it and what they're doing to protect all Sikhs in Canada.

Canada takes seriously all credible threats against persons within its territory and is deeply concerned by the threats against Bhai Moninder Singh Bual (Moninder Singh), his family and his work and by the death of his colleague, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the letter says.

Canada is taking robust action to detect, disrupt and deter transnational repression, online and offline, and to enhance protections and supports for those in Canada who are targeted by such acts.

The letter says part of that robust action came in the form of a 2024 public statement from the RCMP warning of a threat posed by the government of India that came to light through investigations by law enforcement.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has never acknowledged any role in the assassination of Nijjar (new window) in Surrey, B.C., in 2023 or any other acts of violence in Canada.

The federal government told the UN that while it cannot comment on operational matters … that may be the subject of ongoing investigations it is working continuously to identify, assess and address threats posed by foreign states.

Canada also told the UN that it's generally aware certain foreign states intimidate, harass and harm people in Canada and their relatives living abroad but assured the rapporteurs that when it's informed of a threat it leverages the full authorities of the CSIS Act to respond.

That response, the letter said, includes investigating, advising and disrupting threats against individuals in Canada.

Through these joint efforts, the RCMP and its law enforcement partners have identified several credible and imminent threats to life, which have led them to issue 'duty to warn' notifications to members of the South Asian community, and specifically members of the pro-Khalistan movement, the letter says.

Singh has received four duty to warn letters, the most recent in February 2026, as the Carney government moved to restore normal diplomatic relations with India.

Singh told CBC News earlier this week that he's highly critical of the duty-to-warn system, a British Columbia law which requires police to warn an individual when they have intelligence that his or her life may be in danger.

The duty to warn, unfortunately, is exactly what it says it is. It's a duty to warn. And after that, the individual is kind of left on their own, he said.

While Canada did not provide details on how it responded to the threat against Singh, it said that in order to protect someone facing this threat the RCMP may take steps that are not limited to the duty to warn.

When it comes to protecting Canada's Sikh community from foreign threats, Canada told the UN that it works closely with domestic and international security and intelligence partners.

Peter Zimonjic is a senior writer for CBC News who reports for digital, radio and television. He has worked as a reporter and columnist in London, England, for the Telegraph, Times and Daily Mail, and in Canada for the Ottawa Citizen, Torstar and Sun Media. He is the author of Into The Darkness: An Account of 7/7, published by Vintage.