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Four NRI Sikhs sworn in as ministers in Canada

Justin Trudeau has launched a new Liberal era with a 30-member cabinet that features predominantly fresh faces

Ottawa, Nov 04, 2015
NRIpress-Club/Toronto-Subash Gupta/LA-Gary Singh

Justin Trudeau, the leader of the Liberal Party, was sworn in as prime minister of Canada on Wednesday morning, Nov.04, 2015.

Justin Trudeau has launched a new Liberal era with a 30-member cabinet that features predominantly fresh faces, an equal number of men and women and line-up of ministers in Canadian history.

Two turbaned Sikhs among four NRI Sikhs made a history when they were sworn in as cabinet ministers in Canada.

Navdeep Bains, 38, MP from Mississauga-Malton has been named Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. He served as the MP for Mississauga-Brampton South from 2004 to 2011, extensive experience as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and long-time Trudeau friend and advisor. He ia an accountant/financial analyst and visiting professor at Ryerson University.

Amarjeet Sohi, a former Edmonton city councilor, was named infrastructure minister in Trudeau cabinet. He defeated former Conservative cabinet minister Tim Uppal in Edmonton-Mill Woods by just 95 votes.

Harjit Sajjan, 42, MP from Vancouver South, was appointed defence minister. He was with the Vancouver Police Department for 11 years and served as a detective for the gang crime unit. He has been the first Sikh to command a Canadian regiment, called the Duke of Connaught’s Own which is a reserve regiment based in British Columbia province. Sajjan has served in Afghanistan and Bosnia and been twice a special adviser on Afghanistan. He was given the Meritorious Service Medal in March 2013. Harjit was five when his father moved to Canada from Punjab. His wife Kuljit Kaur is a family doctor.,,,,,,,READ MORE

Bardish Chagger from Waterloo, MP, has been sworn in as minister for small business and tourism in the new Liberal cabinet. The appointment makes Chagger one of 15 female MPs taking on a minister role in a gender balanced cabinet. She defeated incumbent Conservative candidate Peter Braid on the Oct. 19 election with 50 per cent of the popular vote. She worked as an executive assistant to former Kitchener-Waterloo Liberal MP Andrew Telegdi, who held his seat in the riding from 1993 to 2008. She graduated in 2004 from the University of Waterloo with a bachelor’s degree in science. ....READ MORE

A list of the new cabinet sworn in on Wednesday, Nov 04, 2015:

 

1. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also minister of intergovernmental affairs and youth;
2. Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Singh Bains;
3. Minister of National Defence Harjit Singh Sajjan;
4. Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi;
5. Minister of Small Business and Tourism Bardish Chagger.
6. Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale;
7. Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay;
8. Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephane Dion;
9. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship John McCallum;
10. Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett;
11. President of the Treasury Board Scott Brison;
12. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Dominic LeBlanc;
13. Minister of Finance William Morneau;
14. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould;
15. Minister of Public Services and Procurement Judy Foote;
16. Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland;
17. Minister of Health Jane Philpott;
18. Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jean-Yves Duclos;
19. Minister of Transport Marc Garneau;
20. Minister of International Development and La Francophonie Marie-Claude Bibeau;
21. Minister of Natural Resources James Carr;
22. Minister of Canadian Heritage Melanie Joly;
23. Minister of National Revenue Diane Lebouthillier;
24. Minister of Veterans Affairs Kent Hehr, also associate minister of National Defence;
25. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna;
26. Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour MaryAnn Mihychuk;
27. Minister of Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef;
28. Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities Carla Qualtrough;
29. Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Hunter Tootoo;
30. Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan;
31. Minister of Status of Women Patricia A. Hajdu;

 

  • 19 NRIs (Five turbaned Sikhs and five Sikh women) Elected ...CLICK HERE