Anita Anand likely to be Canada’s 1st Hindu minister

TORONTO: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is considering the appointment of Anita Anand as country’s first-ever cabinet minister from the Hindu community while he prepares to announce the formation of the new government on Wednesday. According to sources in the ruling party, “serious discussions” have been held in this regard and if the appointment is made, it will be historic for the nearly millionstrong community in the country. The Liberal Party caucus in the newlyelected House of Commons features three Hindus.

TORONTO: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is considering the appointment of the country’s first-ever cabinet minister from the Hindu community as he prepares to announce the formation of the new government on Wednesday.

According to sources in the ruling Liberal Party, “serious discussions” have been held in this regard and if the appointment does come through, it will be historic for the nearly millionstrong community in the country. The Liberal Party caucus in the newly-elected House of Commons features three Hindus.

Among them, the favourite for the cabinet post could be Anita Anand, who made a successful political debut this year by emerging victorious from Oakville in Ontario during the Federal elections on October 21.

Prior to her entry into politics, Anand, who has roots in Punjab, was a professor of law at the University of Toronto. The daughter of medical professionals from India, she was born in Kentville in the province of Nova Scotia.

Anand is a former chair of the Canadian Museum of Hindu Civilization. She has already made history as the first Hindu woman to be elected to parliament.

The sources pointed out how such an appointment will also serve Trudeau’s objective of further broadening the diversity of the federal cabinet, as he prepares to run a minority government in Ottawa.

Other than Anand, there is Chandra Arya, an entrepreneur who is originally from Karnataka. He was re-elected to the House from Nepean in Ontario. The third MP from the community is Raj Saini, who retained his seat by winning again from the riding of Kitchener Centre, also in Ontario. A businessman by profession, Saini was born in Himachal Pradesh.