1. Anita Anand has represented the riding of Oakville in the House of Commons since the 2019 federal election, sitting as a member of the Liberal Party.
74 Facts About Anita Anand
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From 2024 to 2025, Anand served as the Minister of Transport.
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Anita Anand is the first Hindu woman to be elected as a member of Parliament and the first Hindu to become a cabinet minister in Canada.
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Anita Anand's father was from Tamil Nadu and her mother was from Punjab.
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Anita Anand relocated to Ontario in 1985 to pursue her undergraduate degree at Queen's University in political studies.
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Anita Anand holds four degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in political studies from Queen's University; a Bachelor of Arts in jurisprudence from Wadham College, Oxford University; a bachelor of laws from Dalhousie University; and a master of laws from the University of Toronto.
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Anita Anand has held academic positions at Yale, Queen's University and Western University.
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Anita Anand was previously the JR Kimber Chair in Investor Protection and Corporate Governance at the Faculty.
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Anita Anand began her legal career as an associate at Torys from 1994 to 1997, after articling at Torys from 1992 to 1993.
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Anita Anand then pursued her teaching career by serving as assistant professor from 1997 to 1999 at the Faculty of Law of Western University.
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Anita Anand received a US-Canada Fulbright award in 2005 and attended Yale Law School as a visiting lecturer in law while teaching comparative corporate governance.
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Anita Anand was visiting Olin scholar in law and economics at Yale Law School and undertook research on the implications of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on Canadian public companies.
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Anita Anand left Queen's University for the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto in 2006 where she was a full professor.
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Anita Anand served as associate dean from 2007 to 2009.
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From 2010 to 2019, Anita Anand served as the academic director of the Centre for the Legal Profession, as well as for its Program on Ethics in Law and Business.
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Anita Anand was cross-appointed to the Rotman School of Management as the director of policy and research at the Capital Markets Research Institute, and to the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto.
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On September 17,2019, it was announced that Anita Anand would receive the Yvan Allaire Medal from the Royal Society of Canada.
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On June 12,2019, Anita Anand won the Liberal nomination for the riding of Oakville, Ontario by a majority of votes on the first ballot.
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Anita Anand defeated former member of Provincial Parliament Kevin Flynn for the nomination.
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On October 21,2019, Anita Anand won the riding of Oakville with 30,265 votes.
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Anita Anand was sworn in as the member of Parliament for Oakville on November 22,2019, to represent Oakville in the House of Commons in the 43rd Canadian Parliament.
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On November 20,2019, Anita Anand was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council and as the public services and procurement minister at Rideau Hall.
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Anita Anand worked to finalize Canada's agreements with vaccine producers regarding the procurement and delivery of COVID-19 vaccine doses for children.
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Anita Anand was re-elected to Parliament following the 2021 Canadian federal election.
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Anita Anand defeated Conservative Kerry Colborne with 46 per cent of the vote.
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On October 26,2021, Anita Anand was sworn in as Minister of National Defence at Rideau Hall.
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Anita Anand is only the second woman in Canadian history to take on the role of national defence minister, after former prime minister Kim Campbell in the 1990s.
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Anita Anand was joined by General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, who apologized on behalf of the military, and Deputy Minister Jody Thomas, who apologized on behalf of the department.
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Anita Anand rejected none of the recommendations and stressed the need to change Canadian military culture to attract recruits.
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Just days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Anita Anand announced a significant expansion of Canada's contribution to NATO operations in Europe.
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Anita Anand announced the procurement and donation to Ukraine of Canadian-made, specialized cameras for Bayraktar TB-2 drones.
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In late April 2022, Anita Anand announced further military aid for Ukraine.
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Just days later, Anita Anand confirmed that the Canadian Armed Forces had begun to train Ukrainian forces in the use of the howitzers.
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At the 2022 NATO Leaders Summit in Madrid, Anita Anand signed an agreement with Latvia's Defence Minister, Artis Pabriks, to upgrade the Canadian-led NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia to a brigade size.
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In July 2022, at the 15th Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas in Brasilia, Anita Anand led an effort to convince other countries present to denounce the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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In September 2022, Anita Anand told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that it would boost the capacity of the Royal Canadian Air Force hub in Prestwick, Scotland, by adding a third C-130 Hercules aircraft and boosting its presence to 55 personnel, thus enabling it to deliver additional military aid to Ukraine.
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At a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group later that day, Anita Anand announced that Canada would contribute $34 million in additional military aid to Ukraine, in the form of drone cameras, additional winter clothing, and satellite services.
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Anita Anand visited Kyiv and Irpin during a trip to Ukraine on January 18,2023.
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Anita Anand announced on January 26,2023 that Canada would donate four of the Canadian Army's Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, with the possibility of more to follow.
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On June 20,2022, at CFB Trenton, Anita Anand announced a five-point NORAD modernization plan that is estimated to cost approximately $40 billion over twenty years.
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On January 9,2023, Anita Anand announced that Canada had finalized the acquisition of 88 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
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On November 27,2022, Anita Anand announced the defence and security elements of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy.
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Anita Anand said that the strategy will boost Canada's annual deployment of frigates to the Indo-Pacific from two to three, and that it would bolster participation of Canadian aviators and soldiers in regional military exercises.
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Anita Anand assumed the position of President of the Treasury Board following a cabinet shuffle initiated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid a challenging political environment for the incumbent Liberal party.
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In October, 2024, Anita Anand announced that the federal government would purchase at least $10million of carbon removal services in the race to reach net-zero government operations by 2050.
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In October 2023, Anita Anand announced the creation of a restorative engagement programme in the public service to address systemic discrimination, and ensure the Government is working to be inclusive.
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In February 2024, Anita Anand announced an action plan for Black public service employees.
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In October, 2024, Anita Anand joined 50 Black executives from 2 cohorts to celebrate the launch of a new stream of the Executive Leadership Development Program.
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One of Anita Anand's priorities was modernizing legacy IT systems and increasing cybersecurity across the federal government.
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Anita Anand launched the GC Digital Talent Platform to allow employees with digital knowledge and skills to apply for jobs in the public service in January 2024, as part of her work to strengthen Canada's public service.
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In May 2024, Anita Anand announced a Government-wide Cyber Security Strategy.
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That same month, Anita Anand announced nationwide consultations with public and private experts on creating an AI strategy for the public service.
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In June 2024, Anita Anand announced her intent to expand early pension eligibility for frontline safety and security workers across the federal government, or the "25 and out" pension.
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Early in 2024, Anita Anand announced her intention to re-ignite the Canada-US Regulatory Cooperation Council, a bilateral forum between Canada and the United States that focuses on reducing regulatory barriers to ease trade, and save money for cross-border businesses.
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In October 2024, Anita Anand announced $45 million in rail safety nationwide.
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Canada was the first country to bring in regulations of this sort and Minister Anita Anand is seeking to strike the right balance between passenger protections and a competitive airline industry.
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In February 2025, Anita Anand announced major investments to strengthen port infrastructure, supply chain efficiency, and transportation decarbonization throughout Canada.
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On February 4,2025, Anita Anand announced over $125 million through Canada's Oceans Protection Plan to strengthen marine safety in 47 communities.
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In October 2024, Anita Anand announced $45 million in rail safety nationwide.
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Anita Anand highlighted Alto's role in strengthening regional economies and reducing emissions and the collaboration between public and private partners to deliver a modern, efficient transportation system for Canadians.
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Anita Anand was sworn into a new cabinet position as Minister of Transport and Internal Trade as of December 20,2024.
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Anita Anand was speculated to be a potential candidate in the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
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Anita Anand launched a public consultation about the Canada-US border on January 31,2025, aimed at expanding security screening at Canadian ports, enhancing background checks, reinforcing border security, and protecting supply chains.
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Anita Anand has advocated for reducing internal trade barriers between all provinces and territories, and enhancing domestic market resilience, arguing that greater economic integration within Canada will bolster competitiveness and safeguard jobs.
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Anita Anand has said that eliminating interprovincial trade barriers could boost GDP and domestic trade.
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Anita Anand has pushed for regulatory reforms to streamline trade between provinces, given mounting external trade pressures.
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On February 7,2025, Anita Anand attended the Canada-US Economic Summit, where she emphasized the need for a long-term prosperity agenda for Canada amid a 30-day pause on US tariffs.
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Anita Anand met leaders from trade, business, public policy, Indigenous communities, and labour to discuss strategies for breaking barriers, diversifying exports, and boosting productivity.
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Anita Anand led efforts to reduce interprovincial trade barriers and improve labour mobility, working with provinces and territories to streamline regulations, cut red tape, and enhance economic integration.
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Anita Anand said that Canada's fragmented regulatory framework limits domestic trade, making it easier for some businesses to export abroad than to neighbouring provinces.
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Anita Anand pushed for harmonizing agricultural regulations, simplifying licensing requirements, and removing restrictions on the transport of goods.
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Anita Anand called for renewed federal, provincial, and territorial cooperation to build a more integrated domestic economy, ensuring that businesses and workers can operate seamlessly across Canada.
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On March 14,2025, Minister Anita Anand was sworn into a new cabinet position under Mark Carney's government as Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
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Anita Anand was awarded the 2022 Global Citizen Award by the United Nations Association in Canada.