Remembering Air India Flight 182
On June 23, 1985, a bomb exploded on Air India Flight 182 en route from Toronto to London, England killing all 329 people aboard, most of them Canadians. To this day, the Air India bombing is still the worst terrorist attack in Canadian history.
Since that terrible day in June 1985, the Government of Canada has worked to investigate the crash of Flight 182, to bring the perpetrators of this act to justice, and to make the necessary changes to our policies, regulations and legislation to safeguard Canadians from terror. The Government has also continually adjusted its approach to airline and national security, and security intelligence.
In 2007, the Government of Canada established a program to erect three new memorials and to refurbish an existing one in Ottawa so that Canadians would never forget the tragedy. The fourth and final memorial was dedicated in Montreal to remember the victims, following those dedicated in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa. These memorials will forever stand as a reminder of the innocent lives lost during a very sad chapter in our shared history.
Kanishka Project
In 2011, the Government announced a $10M initiative, the Kanishka Project, which, over five years, invested in research on pressing questions for Canada on terrorism and counter-terrorism, such as preventing and countering violent extremism.
Through the Kanishka Project, funding was provided for a range of initiatives – including conferences, publications and major research projects – that helped Canada build the knowledge base needed to effectively counter terrorism.
Air India Flight 182 Ex Gratia Payment
The Government of Canada has provided a one-time ex gratia payment to the families of the passengers and crew who died on Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985.
Ex gratia payments are voluntary, symbolic payments. This payment was provided to families as a demonstration of solicitude and recognition for the administrative disdain families experienced in the years following this terrible act of terrorism.
The application period closed on July 31, 2012. All applications have been processed and payments have been made to eligible applicants for 275 victims.
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