India, Sept. 1 -- As relations between New Delhi and Ottawa gradually improve, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the two countries share "strong" and "vibrant" ties.

That sentiment was conveyed in a message to the India-Canada Association of Montreal (ICAM's) celebration on Saturday of India's Independence Day.

In a statement, that was delivered by Federal Minister of Health Marjorie Michel, Carney said, "Canada and India have a strong, longstanding and vibrant relationship built on our shared traditions of democracy and pluralism. Our close bond is strengthened by a community of more than 1.4 million Indo-Canadians who make important contributions to our country in all fields of endeavour."

Carney also conveyed his "warmest...