Indian-origin Anita Anand, Kamal Khera appointed to key roles in Canada cabinet

INDIAN origin women Anita Anand and Kamal Khera have been appointed to key ministerial positions in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet. The Liberal Party leader and former central banker was sworn in on Friday, leading a 24-member cabinet that replaces Justin Trudeau’s 37-member team.

Key appointments

Anita Anand, 58, has been named Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, while Kamal Khera, 36, takes on the role of Minister of Health. Both were retained from Trudeau’s cabinet but assigned different portfolios.

Anand expressed her enthusiasm about her new role, stating: “We know that negativity won’t pay the rent or the mortgage. Negativity won’t bring down the price of groceries. Negativity won’t win a trade war. We are united and strong and we will immediately get to work.”

Kamal Khera: A young leader in Canadian politics

Born in Delhi, Khera’s family moved to Canada when she was still in school. She later earned a Bachelor of Science degree from York University, Toronto.

Khera, one of the youngest women ever elected to the Canadian Parliament, was first elected in 2015 as an MP for Brampton West. She has previously served as Minister of Seniors and held several parliamentary secretary roles. A registered nurse, Khera volunteered at a long-term care facility during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expressing gratitude for her new role, Khera wrote on X: “As a nurse, my top priority is to always be there to support my patients, and that’s the same mentality I’ll bring every day to the role of Minister of Health. Extremely grateful for the confidence of PM @MarkJCarney.”

Anita Anand’s political journey

Anand was a front-runner to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party leader but initially announced her decision to step away from politics. However, on March 1, she reversed her decision, citing Canada’s “crucial moment in history.”

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Anand moved to Ontario in 1985. She was first elected as an MP for Oakville in 2019 and has previously served as President of the Treasury Board, Minister of National Defence, and Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

The Prime Minister of Canada’s website highlights her legal and academic background, stating: “Anand has worked as a scholar, lawyer, and researcher. She has been a Professor of Law at the University of Toronto, where she held the J R Kimber Chair in Investor Protection and Corporate Governance.”

A smaller cabinet

Mark Carney’s new cabinet consists of 13 men and 11 women, a more compact team compared to Trudeau’s. The Canadian Prime Minister emphasised the importance of efficiency in governance, stating: “Canada, meet your new cabinet. We’ve built a smaller, focused, and experienced team that is made to meet this moment.”

As Carney’s government gets to work, Indo-Canadian representation remains prominent in key leadership roles, reflecting Canada’s diverse and inclusive political landscape.