Toronto, Ottawa, Canada: India’s next High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, has reached Ottawa and is expected to formally assume his new responsibilities in the coming days.
As part of protocol, Patnaik met Canada’s Chief of Protocol, Sebastien Carriere, on Monday and handed over a copy of his credentials. However, he will officially step into his role only after presenting the original credentials to Canada’s Governor General, Mary Simon. That ceremony is expected to take place shortly, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Carriere welcomed Patnaik on LinkedIn, writing, “Very pleased to welcome to Canada His Excellency Dinesh K Patnaik, High Commissioner-designate of India.”
His arrival ends a nearly 11-month gap during which Canada did not have an Indian High Commissioner stationed in Ottawa.
At the same time, Canada’s new envoy to India, Christopher Cooter, has reached New Delhi. The Canadian High Commission posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Namaste and a very warm welcome to Canada’s High Commissioner-designate to India, Mr. Christopher Cooter! Thrilled to have you join us.” The mission expressed hopes of strengthening and revitalizing the broad partnership between the two nations.
This diplomatic exchange follows a tense year in bilateral relations. Last October, India recalled its envoy Sanjay Verma and five officials from Ottawa after Canadian authorities attempted to question them in connection with the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response, India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including then Acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler.
Relations worsened in September 2023 when the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in Nijjar’s killing in Surrey, British Columbia. India strongly rejected the claims as “baseless.” Trade negotiations were suspended, and both nations scaled back diplomatic presence.
Dinesh Patnaik, with over three decades of experience, has held key diplomatic assignments in India and abroad. He previously served as Deputy High Commissioner to the UK (2016–2018) and had postings in Geneva, Dhaka, Beijing, and Vienna, besides leading divisions on Africa, Europe (West), the UN, and external publicity at India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Christopher Cooter, on the other hand, has served as Canada’s High Commissioner to South Africa and worked in New Delhi as a political officer during the 1990s.
The decision to restore High Commissioners in Ottawa and New Delhi was reached after a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis earlier this year. Both leaders agreed on steps to reset and rebuild the strained bilateral relationship.
