Prime Minister Stephen Harper has asked a recently retired Supreme Court of Canada justice to meet with the relatives of people who died in the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182.

A news release from Harper's office said Justice John Major "will consult with the families on what they believe would be the most expeditious process to address both their concerns and the outstanding questions" raised by the acquittal of two suspects last year.

In the lead-up to the January federal election, the Conservatives promised an inquiry into the investigation of the Air India case.

Justice John Major (CP file photo)
Justice John Major (CP file photo)

"I still believe that what we need is a full judicial inquiry," Harper said at a news conference late Tuesday afternoon.

He said the consultation process involving Major is designed to make sure the families are comfortable with any inquiry's terms of reference before it is called.

In 1985, Air India Flight 182 blew up off the coast of Ireland, killing all 329 people on board.

The victims were primarily Canadian citizens from British Columbia and Ontario who were en route from Vancouver to India to visit relatives.

A connected bombing in Japan killed two baggage handlers as they dealt with luggage on a separate Air India flight that also originated in Vancouver.

Fifteen years passed between the explosions and the laying of charges against B.C. residents Ajaib Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik in October 2000.

Bagri and Malik were acquitted in March 2005, after a judge ruled that the Crown's case against them was too weak.

Inderjit Singh Reyat is serving a five-year sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of manslaughter for his role in acquiring materials to build the bomb that killed 329 people on board the 1985 flight.

Major retired from the country's top court in December 2005 and was replaced by Justice Marshall Rothstein in February.

Major discussed 'outstanding questions' with Rae

Harper's news release said Major has already spoken with former Ontario premier Bob Rae, who submitted a report on the bombing investigation to the Liberal government in the fall of 2005.

The two men discussed "outstanding questions" about the investigation, the release said.

Shortly before the Liberal government fell in late November 2005, Rae recommended further inquiry into four topics:

  • Whether the assessment of Sikh terrorism was adequate in light of available information.
  • Whether the RCMP and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) co-operated adequately in the investigation.
  • The relationship between intelligence gathered and the evidence presented at trial.
  • Any breaches of airport security that occurred and whether those issues have been addressed.