Saturday, March 29, 2025
In a significant political development, Mark Carney has officially formed his new Canadian government after the Liberal Party secured a near-majority in the recent federal elections. At 60 years old, Carney was sworn in as Prime Minister alongside his 38-member ministerial team during a ceremony in Ottawa, where Governor General Mary Simon administered the oath of office and secrecy.
The new Cabinet comprises 28 full ministers and 10 ministers of state. Notably, Carney emphasized youth representation and regional diversity, appointing 24 new ministers, including 13 first-time Members of Parliament.
A standout feature of the new administration is the inclusion of six ministers of Indian origin, four of whom are Punjabi. This strong representation continues the trend seen during Justin Trudeau’s tenure, affirming the community’s rising influence in Canadian politics.
Anita Indira Anand: Appointed as Canada’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anand has made history as the first Hindu woman to hold this position. She was earlier hesitant to contest the 2025 election but was persuaded by Carney to run again and won from Oakville for the fourth time. Previously, she served as Minister of Public Services and Procurement during the pandemic and later held key roles in Defence, Treasury, and Transport ministries.
Maninder Singh Sidhu: Serving as the Minister of International Trade, Sidhu, 41, represents Brampton East. Re-elected for the third time, he previously served on key committees including Natural Resources and Transport.
Randeep Singh Sarai: The 50-year-old Amritdhari Sikh hails from Sarai Khas village in Punjab and has won his fourth consecutive election from Surrey Centre. Appointed Minister of State for International Development, he brings legal expertise and leadership from his time in Liberal Party caucuses.
Ruby Sahota: Representing Brampton North since 2015, Sahota has been named Minister of State for Crime Prevention. She previously served as party whip and was part of important parliamentary committees.
Shafqat Ali: A Punjabi from Pakistan, Ali has been appointed Chair of the Treasury Board, overseeing fiscal responsibilities.
Gary Anandasangaree: Of Tamil origin, he now holds the Public Safety portfolio.
The inclusion of these ministers underlines Carney’s intent to reflect Canada’s multicultural fabric in governance. His decision to include high-profile names like Anita Anand reaffirms the trust placed in her experience and leadership.
In the April 28, 2025 federal elections, the Liberal Party secured 170 seats in the 343-member House of Commons—just two short of a majority. Recounts are underway in four ridings where margins were extremely close. A minority government scenario is likely, necessitating support from other parties.
This election also saw a record number of Indian-origin candidates—66 in total—contest from various parties, including 17 Liberals, 28 Conservatives, 10 NDP, 8 Greens, and 2 Independents. This upward trajectory in political participation continues to shape Canada’s parliamentary landscape.
