Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a major Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday. He introduced new ministers to guide his newly re-elected Liberal government.

Anita Anand Becomes Foreign Minister

Carney appointed Anita Anand as the new foreign minister. She replaced Mélanie Joly, who is now the minister of industry. Anand earlier served as Canada’s defence minister.

François-Philippe Champagne kept his position as finance minister. Dominic LeBlanc also stayed in his role as minister responsible for U.S. trade. This comes during a tense trade war between Canada and the United States.

Who Is Anita Anand?

Anita Anand, 57, has quickly climbed the ranks in Canadian politics. She has represented Oakville, Ontario, in Parliament since 2019 and has already held four major Cabinet roles.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she managed Canada’s vaccine rollout and medical supply efforts as Minister of Public Services and Procurement. In 2021, she became Defence Minister, where she tackled sexual misconduct in the military and supported Ukraine during its war with Russia.

According to official records, “Anand led Canada’s efforts to provide aid for Ukraine amid the war with Russia and took initiatives to fight sexual misconduct and bring about cultural change in the Canadian Armed Forces.”

In 2023, she briefly served as head of the Treasury Board before returning in 2024 as Minister of Transport and Internal Trade.

Anand was born in rural Nova Scotia and moved to Ontario in 1985. Her father’s family is from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and her mother came from a small town in Punjab. Both parents were doctors. Before entering politics, Anand worked as a legal academic, teaching at universities including Yale, with a focus on corporate law and financial regulation.

A Promise to Confront U.S. Pressure

Carney took office last month after succeeding Justin Trudeau. He had promised to stand firm against pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. At the same time, he vowed to remain calm and focused, drawing on his experience as a former central bank governor for Canada and the UK.

Carney stated, “Canadians elected this new government with a strong mandate to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States and to build a stronger economy for all Canadians.”

King Charles III to Outline Government Agenda

Carney said that King Charles III will address Parliament on May 27. His speech will present the government’s priorities as Parliament resumes. Canada recognizes the British monarch as its head of state.

Changing Ties with the U.S.

Carney highlighted the historical roots of Canada’s ties with the UK and France. He made it clear that Canada’s old model of deepening ties with the U.S. is now over.

Several Ministers Removed from Cabinet

More than 10 members from the previous Cabinet did not return. Among them was former defence minister Bill Blair. David McGuinty shifted from public safety to become the new defence minister.

New Faces Join Cabinet

Carney chose Tim Hodgson, the former CEO of Goldman Sachs Canada, as the new natural resources minister. Carney himself had worked at Goldman Sachs for 14 years. He has spoken about turning Canada into an energy “superpower” and focusing on large-scale, “nation building” projects.

Additionally, former journalist Evan Solomon joined the Cabinet. He now serves as Canada’s first minister of artificial intelligence. Just like Trudeau’s Cabinet, Carney’s Cabinet includes an equal number of men and women.

Cabinet Focuses on Change

Carney said this new Cabinet was designed to meet the expectations of Canadians. The Liberal Party is now leading the government for a fourth consecutive term.