Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Anita Anand as Foreign Minister. Anand’s special responsibility will be to improve and strengthen relations with India. The newly appointed Foreign Minister Anita Anand has previously handled the Ministry of Transport and Defense. In January, she had said that she would leave politics and return to the field of education. But after being re-elected in the elections held last month, PM Carney persuaded her to return to the cabinet and handle the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Anita will have to strengthen relations with India and America
While appointing Anita Anand as the Foreign Minister, PM Carney said that “her mission will be to re-establish the almost broken relations with India. Along with this, she will have to strengthen relations with America by building better coordination with President Donald Trump.”
Carney inherited former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet
In fact, Carney inherited the cabinet of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It is worth noting that relations with India had become tense during Justin Trudeau’s tenure. Since Trudeau became the Prime Minister in 2015, Canada-India relations have been continuously declining. In the meantime, Trudeau’s increasing warmth towards Khalistan supporters proved to be a disaster for India-Canada relations.
After becoming PM, Carney took many big decisions
At the same time, Carney now has a chance to leave his mark, he led the Liberal Party to victory in the elections held last month. After becoming PM, Carney has taken many big decisions. The number of ministers in former Prime Minister Trudeau’s cabinet was 39. Carney has given place to 28 ministers in his cabinet. All the ministers have been ordered to bring new ideas, clear focus and decisive action in their work. Three politicians of Indian origin who were part of the previous cabinet have not got a place now. There are less Canadians of Indian origin in the new cabinet.
Maninder Sidhu appointed International Trade Minister and two others of Indian origin as State Secretaries
The Canadian PM has appointed Maninder Sidhu as Minister of International Trade and two others of Indian origin as State Secretaries. This post is considered equivalent to a Minister of State. Ruby Sahota, who was previously the Minister of Democratic Institutions, has been made State Secretary and given charge of tackling crime. Randeep Sarai is one of the ten State Secretaries and will deal with international development.
Perhaps the most important ministry during the tariff war with the US has been assigned to Dominic LeBlanc, who will be the minister responsible for Canada-US trade. Chrystia Freeland, who was previously the deputy prime minister with the finance portfolio, challenged Carney for the party leadership, the industry portfolio.
Anita Anand will replace Melanie Joly, who has been moved to the Ministry of Transport and Internal Trade
Anita Anand will replace Melanie Joly, who has been sent to the Ministry of Transport and Internal Trade. In fact, Joly made headlines last year by expelling six Indian diplomats. She accused the diplomats of being “persons of interest” in the murder of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has denied any involvement in this suspicious case, which had signs of gang war and in return expelled Canadian diplomats. Harjit Singh Sajjan, who was a former defense minister, did not contest the House of Commons election and left.
From the previous cabinet, Arif Virani, who was the justice minister and attorney general, and Kamal Khera, who handled the diversity and inclusion portfolio for persons with disabilities, have been removed by Carney.