Anita Anand has been appointed as Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development in Canada PM Mark Carney's cabinet. With her ancestry in Tamil Nadu in Punjab, she is among the two Indian-origin leaders in the new Canadian administration. She was previously the Minister of Transport. Prime Minister Carney was sworn in on Friday in a ceremony presided over by Governor General Mary Simon. His cabinet consists of 13 men and 11 women.
In a post on X, Anand said, “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, to build the Canada and the Canadian economy of tomorrow.”
Who Is Anita Anand?
Anita Anand has been a member of parliament since 2019, holding many prominent portfolios, including Public Services, National Defence, and the Treasury Board. She was the first Hindu politician in Trudeau's cabinet. She has been a prominent figure within the South Asian community.
Anand was born on May 20, 1967, in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Her parents are Saroj D Ram, an anesthesiologist from Punjab, and SV Anand, a surgeon from Tamil Nadu, who moved to Canada from India in the early 1960s. Anand has two sisters, Gita and Sonia. At age 18, she moved to Ontario to pursue political science.
Anand completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Jurisprudence from Oxford University. She then earned a bachelor's in law from Dalhousie University, followed by a master's from the University of Toronto. She started her career as an educator at various institutes, including the prestigious Yale Law School.
While teaching at the University of Toronto, Anand held the JR Kimber Chair in investor protection and corporate governance. She later became the Associate Dean of the University of Toronto as well as the Director of Policy and Research at the Capital Markets Institute at the Rotman School of Management.
Anand's political career began in 2019 when she ran for election and became a Member of Parliament from Oakville. As Minister of Public Services and Procurement, she gained worldwide recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic for negotiating better medical supplies for Canadians, including supply of oxygen, vaccine supplies, etc.
In 2021, she became the Minister of National Defence. Her noteworthy contributions include reforms to address cases of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces and overseeing Canada's military aid to Ukraine. She then became the President of the Treasury Board, bringing more transparency to the financial system.
As the Transport Minister, Anand oversaw safety and infrastructure projects to improve roads, highways and rail transport. She has also addressed climate issues, advocating for green transport in Canada. Anand is reportedly also an LGBTQIA+ rights advocate and a symbol of inspiration among people of colour.
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