CANADA GETS ITS FIRST HINDU MINISTER

TORONTO: Anita Indira Anand has become the first Hindu to be a federal minister in Canada. The cabinet appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also includes three other Indo-canadians, all Sikhs, each of whom was a member of the previous government.

Anand, who was elected to the House of Commons for the first time, was named minister of public services and procurement. She won from the riding of Oakville in Ontario, becoming the first-ever Hindu woman to be elected to Parliament.

A professor of law at the University of Toronto, Anand was born in the town of Kentville in the province of Nova Scotia. Her parents, both medical professionals, are both from India: Her late mother Saroj Ram from the Amritsar area in Punjab, and her father SV Anand, is a Tamilian.

Mother to four children, Anand has also been closely associated with the Indo-canadian community in the Oakville region, and was also earlier chairperson of the Canadian Museum of Hindu Civilisation. She also conducted research for the Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the terrorist bombing of Air India Flight 182.

Returning to the Cabinet will be Bardish Chagger. Earlier Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, she takes over as minister of diversity and inclusion and youth.

Harjit Sajjan retains his position as minister of national defence, while Navdeep Bains will be minister of innovation, science and industry.