Who is Anita Anand? Canada’s first Hindu foreign minister makes history

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a major Cabinet overhaul on Tuesday, appointing Anita Anand as Canada’s new Foreign Minister, replacing Mélanie Joly, who has taken over as Minister of Industry.

With her palm resting on the Bhagavad Gita, the sacred Hindu text, Anand took the oath of office, becoming the first Hindu woman to serve as Canada’s Foreign Minister.

Carney, who recently secured a national election victory and succeeded Justin Trudeau earlier this year, is in the process of reshaping his Cabinet while retaining a core of trusted leaders.

Who is Anita Anand?

Anita Anand, 57, entered politics in 2019 and serves as the Member of Parliament for Oakville, Ontario. In a relatively short span, she has held four major Cabinet roles.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Anand led Canada’s procurement of vaccines and medical supplies as Minister of Public Services and Procurement. In 2021, she was appointed Defence Minister, where she tackled sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces and led Canada’s efforts to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.

According to official records, Anand “led Canada’s efforts to provide aid for Ukraine amid the war with Russia and took initiatives to fight sexual misconduct and bring about cultural change in the Canadian Armed Forces.”

After stepping back briefly in mid-2023 to serve as President of the Treasury Board, she was brought back into the spotlight in September 2024 as Minister of Transport and Internal Trade.

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Born and raised in rural Nova Scotia, Anand moved to Ontario in 1985. Both her parents were physicians—her father’s family hails from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and her mother is from a small town in Punjab.

Before entering politics, Anand was a respected legal academic, teaching at institutions such as Yale and specialising in financial regulation and corporate governance.

Carney’s Cabinet overhaul: Key changes

The Cabinet reshuffle, led by Carney, includes 28 ministers and ten secretaries of state. While familiar names like François-Philippe Champagne remain as Finance Minister and Dominic LeBlanc continues to manage Canada–U.S. relations, others have seen significant changes.

Canada, meet your new Cabinet.

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

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) May 13, 2025

Gary Anandasangaree moves from the Justice portfolio to Public Safety, while David McGuinty takes over the Defence Ministry.

Carney’s shake-up reflects both continuity and strategic renewal as he begins his term with a re-elected Liberal government.