Anita Anand, of Indian descent, made history as Canada’s first Hindu woman Foreign Minister, swearing her oath on the Bhagavad Gita in Mark Carney’s cabinet. The ceremony videos quickly went viral on social media. Following the oath, Anand expressed her honor and commitment to work alongside Prime Minister Carney for a safer, fairer world.
Who is Anita Anand?
Born to parents from Punjab and Tamil Nadu, Anand is a corporate lawyer turned public servant. Elected as the Member of Parliament for Oakville in 2019, Anand previously held the position of Minister of Public Services and Procurement during the Covid-19 crisis.
She boasts an impressive academic background with four degrees, including credentials from Queen’s University, Oxford, Dalhousie, and the University of Toronto. Anita Anand is married to John Knowlton, a Canadian lawyer and business executive, and together they have four children.
Canada, meet your new Cabinet.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) May 13, 2025
This is a team that is empowered and expected to lead.
Together, we will create a new economic and security relationship with the United States and build a stronger economy — the strongest economy in the G7. pic.twitter.com/6TadSrxRPB
