Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced Anita Anand as the country’s new defense minister as he introduced his new cabinet after election in September.
“She is a world-class expert in governance with decades of professional experience that she will bring to bear to make sure that the Canadian Armed Forces, the leadership and the operations thereof are worthy of the extraordinary women and men who choose to serve,” Trudeau told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony.
Anand said that she will be “reviewing everything,” including past reports on sexual misconduct in the armed forces and the recent independent review of the military justice system.
“I will be asking the department for an analysis of the recommendations that have already been implemented as well as the ones that have not been,” she said. “There’s no one switch that we can turn on to change everything overnight. This is going to take time and, while that may frustrate some, I want to assure everyone that I will put in the necessary work for as long as it takes to get this done.”
She replaces former defence minister Harjit Sajjan who becomes Canada’s new minister of international development and minister responsible for the Pacific development agency.
Former minister for diversity, inclusion and youth Bardish Ghaggar was dropped,leaving only two ministers of Indian origin in the Cabinet. She is replaced by Ahmed Hussen, of Somaili orgin, who becomes minister of housing, along with minister of diversity and inclusion, after previously serving as minister of families, children and social development. Marci Len of Trinidadian origin becomes the minister of women and gender diversity .Omar Aghraba, of Arab origin has retained his position as minter of transport.
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