Opinion Clarification

On Friday, November 8, The Indian Express carried a report on the Ministry of External Affairs statement alleging that the Canadian government blocked a press conference aired on news outlet, The Australia Today, in which S Jaishankar commented on New Delhi’s issues with Ottawa. Based on the MEA’s statement, The Indian Express carried an editorial online (‘Calling out Canada’) on November 9.

Subsequently, in response to a questionnaire sent by The Indian Express, Louis-Carl Brissette Lesage, Spokesperson, Media Relations, Global Affairs Canada said that, “The Australia Today has never been banned in Canada.” Asked about the social media block, the spokesperson pointed to “a decision by Meta to block news on its social media platforms in Canada since 2023.” This report was carried in the newspaper on Monday, November 11.

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Given this response, the online editorial is withdrawn — with regret.