Anita Anand, the Indian-origin Canadian politician, has been appointed as Canada’s new overseas minister in a serious Cupboard reshuffle by Prime Minister Mark Carney.Anand replaces Mélanie Joly within the position and beforehand served because the nation’s defence minister. She took her oath together with her hand on the Bhagavad Gita, a convention she has adopted in earlier Cupboard appointments as effectively.The 58-year-old was born in Nova Scotia to Indian immigrant dad and mom—her mom from Punjab and her father from Tamil Nadu. She has constructed a robust profession in legislation, educating, and public service.Earlier than getting into politics, she labored as a company lawyer and joined an Ontario authorities skilled panel in 2015. She was elected MP from Oakville in 2019 and served as minister of public providers and procurement in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, later turning into defence minister.Anand is married to Canadian lawyer and enterprise govt John Knowlton, and so they have 4 kids. Though she had lately introduced plans to step away from politics, the autumn of former PM Trudeau’s authorities and Carney’s rise introduced her again into management.Anand holds 4 levels, together with a BA in Political Research from Queen’s College (gold medallist), a BA in Jurisprudence from Oxford, a legislation diploma from Dalhousie, and a Grasp of Legal guidelines from the College of Toronto.The reshuffle comes as Carney builds his newly elected Liberal authorities. His Cupboard contains 28 ministers and introduces secretaries of state, aiming to sign a recent begin from the Trudeau period.Anand turned the primary Hindu to serve in Canada’s federal Cupboard in 2019. She has earned reward for her disciplined and targeted strategy, particularly throughout her time on the defence ministry.Carney’s appointments steadiness expertise and variety, with girls making up half of the Cupboard.The modifications come amid tense Canada-US relations. Carney has promised to face agency towards US President Donald Trump, significantly on commerce. In a press release, Carney stated the Cupboard was chosen to “ship the change Canadians need and wish.”Anand visited the Vaishno Devi Temple in Oakville on Mom’s Day. She posted on X: “It warmed my coronary heart to see so many households throughout #Oakville coming to have fun and bear in mind our moms collectively.”
