Anita Anand Becomes Canada’s Top Diplomat In Cabinet Reshuffle

Photo: Screengrab x/AnitaAnandMP

India-West News Desk

OTTAWA – Anita Anand, a trailblazing figure in Canadian politics, has been sworn in as the country’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs—an appointment that marks both a personal milestone and a strategic pivot in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly reshaped cabinet. At a time of heightened global tensions, Anand’s new role places her at the helm of Canada’s international diplomacy.

Her oath of office—taken with her hand on the Bhagavad Gita, as she has done in previous appointments—was more than ceremonial. It underscored both her public commitment and personal identity: the daughter of Indian immigrants, a practising Hindu, and one of the most senior women of colour ever to serve in a Canadian federal cabinet. The gesture drew praise from several Hindu advocacy groups across the country.

Anand’s rise to political prominence reflects a steady path marked by academic achievement, public service, and community engagement. Though she now represents Oakville, Ontario, in the House of Commons, she was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia, in 1967. Her father, originally from Tamil Nadu, and her mother, from Punjab, arrived in Canada in the 1960s and worked as physicians. Their example instilled in her a lifelong ethic of service.

Before entering politics, Anand built a respected career in law and academia. She earned degrees from Queen’s University, Dalhousie University, and the University of Oxford, eventually becoming a professor at the University of Toronto. She lives in Oakville with her husband, John Knowlton, a business executive and lawyer, and their four children.

First elected to Parliament in 2019, Anand served as Minister of National Defence under Justin Trudeau, where she led Canada’s military through a period of internal reform and external uncertainty. In July 2023, she publicly condemned materials perceived to incite violence against Indian diplomats—a move welcomed by many in the Hindu-Canadian community. Her stance was seen as a firm rebuke of extremist rhetoric following the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistani figure, in British Columbia—a case that further strained Canada–India relations.

Anand now succeeds Mélanie Joly, who moves to the Industry portfolio, and will be tasked with recalibrating Canada’s global stance under Carney’s leadership. “I am honoured to be named Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I look forward to working with Prime Minister Mark Carney and our team to build a safer, fairer world and deliver for Canadians.”

The broader cabinet reshuffle introduced a 38-member team—28 ministers and 10 Secretaries of State—designed to reflect both generational renewal and cultural diversity. Among the new appointments is Maninder Sidhu, 41, who was named Minister of International Trade. A fellow Liberal elected in 2019, Sidhu previously served as parliamentary secretary to the Foreign Minister and described his new post as “the honour of a lifetime.”