Opinion Anita Anand could be the “fixer” India and Canada need to mend ties

She was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2019 for Oakville, representing the Liberal Party. With this, she not only became the first Hindu woman elected to the Canadian Parliament but also the first Hindu woman to serve as a member of the Cabinet. Since then, Anand has held several key positions within the Trudeau Caucus. Known for her disciplined and focused approach, she has been described as a “fixer” within the Canadian government.

From 2019 to 2021, as Minister of Public Services and Procurement, she oversaw the procurement of vaccines and personal protective equipment during Covid-19. Subsequently, from 2021 to 2023, she led the Ministry of National Defence, playing a crucial role in providing military aid to Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion and addressing issues of sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces. She also served as the president of the Treasury Board and then as Minister of Transport and Internal Trade. In her last role under the Trudeau Caucus, she served as Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

Anand assumed the role of Foreign Minister in Carney’s cabinet last week. Her pragmatic outlook and professionalism position her well to handle the delicate situation of India-Canada ties. Carney’s decision to nominate Anand is also a step to build trust, given that she, on numerous occasions, has condemned both the hate speech against Indian diplomats and the use of violent imagery by Sikh extremists.

During Trudeau’s regime, bilateral ties plummeted to historic lows, catalysed by the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In September 2023, Trudeau publicly alleged “credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen,” a claim India vehemently rejected as “preposterous”. This accusation resulted in a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats by both countries. India also temporarily suspended visa services for Canadians and issued travel advisories. Trade negotiations, including the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were also paused. The Trudeau government’s overly accommodating stance towards Khalistani separatists compounded the distrust.

With Carney’s ascension in April 2025, however, there has been a palpable sense of optimism and efforts from both sides toward reconciliation. Instead of referring to Nijjar, he has emphasised “mutual respect” and has publicly stated that the Canada-India relationship is “incredibly important” on personal, economic, and strategic levels. He even highlighted the need to diversify Canada’s trading relationships with “like-minded countries,” explicitly naming India as a key partner. This comes against the backdrop of trade tensions with the United States led by Donald Trump.

Anand’s appointment has the potential to infuse new energy into the India-Canada reset. It not only offers a fresh face for top-level negotiations, but her being a Hindu and of Indian origin can only help rebuild the relationship.. Other Indian-origin Canadians — Maninder Sidhu, Ruby Sahota, and Randeep Sarai — in his cabinet also signal a desire for closer ties. In their phone call, Jaishankar wished Anand a successful tenure, while Anand thanked Jaishankar and conveyed her eagerness to continue working together. Reports about Dinesh Patnaik being considered for the role of High Commissioner to Canada further emphasise the push to normalise relations. These small steps will be pivotal for reconciliation.

The writer is assistant professor, Centre for Canadian, US & Latin American Studies, School of International Studies, JNU