Anita Anand, Indian-origin leader, becomes Canada’s new foreign minister under PM Mark Carney’s cabinet. Discover her inspiring journey and achievements.
Toronto: Mark Carney has been re-elected as Prime Minister of Canada following his party’s victory in the general election. He recently restructured his cabinet, in which Anita Anand, of Indian origin, has been included. In the new government, she has been appointed as the Minister of External Affairs.
Previously, the Foreign Ministry was held by Mélanie Joly, who has now been reassigned to the Industries portfolio. Anita Anand, who earlier served as the Defence Minister, has now taken charge of Foreign Affairs. Notably, she took her oath of office holding the Bhagavad Gita.
Who is Anita Anand?
Anita Anand, 58, is of Tamil and Punjabi heritage. She was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her mother, Saroj Daulat Ram, is an anaesthesiologist from Punjab, and her father, Sundaram Vivek, a general surgeon, is from Tamil Nadu. Anita is the eldest of three siblings, with two younger sisters named Geeta and Sonia.
She holds an academic background in political science and earned her Bachelor of Arts from Oxford University. She later completed her master’s degree in law at Dalhousie University. Anand began her career as a corporate lawyer and went on to work as a law professor, visiting lecturer, and board member at several leading universities before entering politics.
In 2019, she was elected to the House of Commons as the Liberal representative for Oakville. Although it was her first term as an MP, she was appointed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet. From 2019 to 2021, she served as Minister of Public Services and Procurement, making history as the first Hindu to hold the role in Canada. She later took on the position of Defence Minister, during which she announced an economic aid package for Ukraine.
During her tenure, she introduced reforms to address sexual harassment in the armed forces and was recognized with several awards for her efforts. She has been an advocate for gender equality, diversity, and LGBTQ rights. Anand later held the portfolio of Minister of Transport and Internal Trade. She is married to Canadian lawyer and businessman John Knowlton, and the couple has four children.
