VANCOUVER (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s  “Initiative sign pacts and agreements” continued during his Canada visit where  India inked a deal with Canada for supply of uranium for its nuclear reactors, capping negotiations on safeguards that started five years ago. Modi himself made the announcement following talks with Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper.

Under an agreement signed on Wednesday, April 14, after comprehensive talks Modi had with Harper, Cameco Corporation will supply 3,000 metric tons of uranium over five years to India for $254 million. The supply may begin in a year.

“The agreement on procurement of uranium from Canada for our civilian nuclear power plants launches a new era of bilateral nuclear cooperation,” said Modi in his joint presser with Harper. This was the highlight of total 13 pacts that the two countries signed that also included a pact on space cooperation. “It also reflects a new level of mutual trust and confidence. Further, it will contribute to India’s efforts to power its growth with clean energy,” Modi said.

A jubilant Modi, in his address to the Indo-Canadian community boated that what others could not do in 42 years, he achieved in 10 months.

Modi and Harper also resolved to fight terror jointly. “We in India felt Canada’s pain when this city was struck by a senseless act of terrorism…

We will deepen our cooperation to combat terrorism and extremism. We will also promote a comprehensive global strategy, and consistent policy and action against all sources of terrorism and its support,” said Modi.

The two countries also decided to strengthen defense and security cooperation and decided to cooperate to stabilize the Asia Pacific region. Modi also announced Electronic Visa Authorization for tourist visa for Canadian nationals. They will also be eligible for 10-year visas now. The two countries also agreed for new framework for economic partnership.

“I am confident that we can conclude the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement very soon. We will also implement the road map to conclude the Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement by September 2015,” the PM said on deepening economic cooperation. India and Canada had signed a civil nuclear cooperation deal in 2010. It was followed by the signing of an administrative arrangement in 2012 under the Manmohan Singh government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 17 visited a gurdwara and a temple in Vancouver in the final leg of this three-day visit to Canada which ends today. Later, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend an official dinner hosted by his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper, before departing for India.

With their heads covered with a cloth -customary before entering a gurudwara – PM Modi and Prime Minister Harper offered prayers at the Gurdwara Khalsa Diwan. Later, both visited the Laxmi Narain Temple where Modi received a rousing reception. Saying that he was honoured to host one of the world’s great leaders, PM Harper said that India and Canada were “natural partners”.

Earlier, on April 16 Modi, accompanied by Prime Minister Harper, visited the memorial in Toronto for the victims of Air India Flight 182 that was bombed in 1985, killing all 329 people on board. 268 of them were Canadian citizens, mostly of Indian descent. There were 24 Indian and 27 Britons as well.

Air India Flight 182, a Boeing 747 named “Kanishka”, flying on the Montreal-London-New Delhi route on June 23, 1985, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean after being bombed while in Irish airspace.