Is Anita Anand the Right Choice as Canada’s Foreign Minister?

Ottawa, May 14 (NationPress) Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Anita Anand to the influential role of Foreign Minister in his newly formed cabinet, tasked with delivering on the 'mandate for change'.

He has also appointed Maninder Sidhu as the international trade minister, alongside two other individuals of Indian descent as secretaries of state—equivalent to ministers of state.

One of Anand's key objectives will be to navigate the reset of the strained relationship with India, as indicated by Carney, while also managing the complex dynamics with President Donald Trump's administration.

In announcing the new cabinet of 28 ministers, Carney urged them to bring fresh ideas, a clear focus, and decisive actions to their roles.

Ruby Sahota, previously the minister of democratic institutions, has been reassigned to a secretary of state role focused on combating crime.

Randeep Sarai is another of the ten secretaries of state, responsible for international development.

Anand, who previously served as the transport minister and held the defense portfolio, had announced her departure from politics in January to return to academia.

However, Carney successfully persuaded her to rejoin the cabinet and assume the foreign affairs role after her re-election in the recent election.

Having inherited former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet, Carney now has the opportunity to leave his mark after leading the Liberal Party to victory against the odds in last month’s election.

He reduced the number of ministers from 39 in Trudeau's cabinet to 28, and three politicians of Indian origin from the previous cabinet have not retained their positions.

The crucial portfolio during the trade tensions with the US has been given to Dominic LeBlanc, who will oversee Canada-US trade.

Chrystia Freeland, previously the deputy prime minister and finance minister who had contested Carney for the party leadership, has moved to the industry portfolio.

Anand replaces Melanie Joly, who has been reassigned to the transport and internal trade ministry.

Joly heightened tensions with India by expelling six Indian diplomats last year, claiming they were 'persons of interest' in the assassination of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India has denied any involvement in this complex case, which appears to be linked to gang warfare, and retaliated by expelling Canadian diplomats.

Carney has emphasized the significance of relations with India, stating that there is a pathway to address issues with mutual respect and to strengthen ties.

Relations deteriorated under former Trudeau, who relied on the New Democratic Party, led by Jagmeet Singh, a claimed Khalistan supporter, to maintain power.

David McGuinty, previously the public safety minister, will take charge of defense.

The new cabinet features fewer Canadians of Indian descent.

Harjit Singh Sajjan, a former defense minister who held the emergency preparedness portfolio in the last cabinet, chose not to seek re-election to the House of Commons.

From the previous cabinet, Arif Virani, the former justice minister and attorney-general, and Kamal Khera, who managed the diversity and inclusion portfolio for persons with disabilities, have been removed by Carney.