Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has inducted two Indian-origin women, Anita Anand and Kamal Khera, into key roles in his newly constituted cabinet. Anand is appointed as the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, and Khera becomes the Minister of Health.
Anita Anand was born on 20 May 1967. She grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada. Both of her parents, who were doctors, had emigrated from India—her father from Tamil Nadu and her mother from Punjab. The family moved to Ontario in 1985. Anand had a distinguished career as a legal academic before entering politics, having been a professor of law at the University of Toronto, where she was the J.R. Kimber Chair in Investor Protection and Corporate Governance.
Anand's political career started in 2019 when she was elected as the Member of Parliament for Oakville. She rose through the ranks very fast, holding several ministerial positions, including Minister of Public Services and Procurement and, subsequently, Minister of National Defence. In her new position as Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, Anand vowed to tackle economic issues, saying, "We are united and strong, and we will immediately get to work, to build the Canada and the Canadian economy of tomorrow."
Kamal Khera, 36, was born in Delhi, India, and immigrated to Canada as a schoolgirl. She obtained higher education at York University in Toronto, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Khera was a registered nurse in the oncology ward at St. Joseph's Health Centre in Toronto prior to joining politics.
Khera's political journey began in 2015 when she was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Brampton West, one of the youngest women to be elected to Canada's Parliament. She has served in various senior roles, including Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Minister of Seniors. In the COVID-19 pandemic, Khera went back to her nursing roots by volunteering at a long-term care home in Brampton.
When she became Minister of Health, Khera reiterated her commitment to public service, saying, "As a nurse, my highest priority is to always be there to care for my patients, and that's the same approach I'll bring every day to the job of Minister of Health."
Prime Minister Carney's cabinet has 24 members, down from the 37 members of previous Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The cabinet has 13 men and 11 women, demonstrating a focus on gender diversity and balance. The addition of Anand and Khera not only adds important experience to key portfolios but also represents the increasing presence of Indian-origin people in Canadian politics.
Their appointments were hailed as moves toward a more diverse government that reflects the multicultural nature of Canada. With a start to their new mandate, both ministers will be expected to draw on their rich experiences and backgrounds to deal with the issues their respective industries are facing.
