With Bhagavad Gita In Hand, Anita Anand Takes Oath As Canada’s Foreign Minister

Anita Anand, of Indian origin, became Canada’s Foreign Minister in the Mark Carney cabinet, taking her oath on the Bhagavad Gita.

This marks her as the first Hindu woman in the role. Anand, a repeat cabinet member, has used the Gita for previous oaths. Videos from her oath taking ceremony were widely shared on social media. Following her oath, she wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “I am honoured to be named Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. I look forward to working with Prime Minister Mark Carney and our team to build a safer, fairer world and deliver for Canadians.”

Anita Anand, born in Canada to parents from Punjab and Tamil Nadu, began her professional life as a corporate lawyer. Her public service journey commenced in 2015 with an appointment to an Ontario government expert committee. Subsequently, in 2019, she was elected Member of Parliament for Oakville and played a significant role as Minister of Public Services and Procurement during the challenging Covid-19 pandemic.

Anand’s academic background is extensive, encompassing four degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies from Queen’s University (where she was a gold medalist), a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence from Oxford University, a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University, and a Master of Laws from the University of Toronto.

In her personal life, Anand is married to John Knowlton, a Canadian lawyer and business executive. They have four children.

A Look At Mark Carney’s First Cabinet

Mark Carney’s inaugural cabinet comprises 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state. 24 members are new, including Shafqat Ali, Jill McKnight, Tim Hodgson, Eleanor Olszewski, Mandy Gull-Masty, Joël Lightbound, Gregor Robertson, Evan Solomon, Wayne Long, and Nathalie Provost. François-Philippe Champagne, Chrystia Freeland, and Dominic LeBlanc retain their previous positions.