It was announced on July 26th that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was reorganizing the cabinet, giving new portfolios to current ministers and swearing in new ones. Learn about the impact of multiculturalism and migration on Trudeau’s cabinet.   

Trudeau’s new cabinet stands out for its cultural and ethnic diversity as well as for how crucial it is for the present government’s approval. Cabinet shuffles occur roughly every two years, but July’s was different for how important it is for the present government’s approval. Check out this article to learn more about how immigration contributed to one of the most diverse cabinets in Canadian history.  

The impact of multiculturalism and migration on Trudeau’s cabinet – Portfolio shuffles  

Anita Anand   

Anita Anand, the current Chair of Canada’s Treasury Board, has a distinguished career in politics and education. She previously served as Minister of National Defense and Receiver General of Canada before becoming a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Oakville riding.  

Anand’s ancestors are Indian doctors who immigrated to Canada from Nigeria in the early 1960s. She was born in Nova Scotia and comes from a broad and cosmopolitan family.  

Anand had a great academic career before entering politics. She was appointed as a professor at Queen’s University’s Faculty of Law and was also invited to speak as a guest lecturer at Yale Law School. She joined the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 2006 and served as assistant dean from 2007 to 2009.  

Anita Anand now serves as the head of Canada’s Treasury Board, where she is responsible for setting the country’s financial policies and ensuring effective governance. Her one-of-a-kind path, enriched by her multicultural origins and scholastic achievements, has established her as a major figure in Canada’s political landscape.  

Ahmed Hussen  

Ahmed Hussen is the current International Development Minister, and his life story exemplifies resilience and determination. He was born and reared in Mogadishu, Somalia, and met the brutal reality of the Somali civil war when he was 16 years old, prompting his family to seek sanctuary in Canada. They moved to Canada in 1993, where two of his older brothers had already established themselves. Hussen accepted his new home in the province of Ontario and began a career in public service.   

Hussen has held a number of important positions in his political career, demonstrating his dedication to making a good difference in Canadian society. He served as Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development, Minister of Housing, and Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship before becoming Minister of International Development. He is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for the thriving York South—Weston constituency.  

Ahmed Hussen’s narrative embodies Canada’s values of diversity, openness, and acceptance. His journey from refugee to an important player in Canadian politics shows the transforming force of immigration and the valuable contributions immigrants make to the country’s growth and development. As Minister of International Development, he continues to work relentlessly to improve global cooperation and support for developing nations, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to humanitarian initiatives and international solidarity.  

Kamal Khera   

Kamal Khera, a long-time campaigner for diversity and inclusion, is currently Canada’s Minister of Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities. She emigrated to Canada at the age of 10 from New Delhi, India. Khera’s amazing path led her to become the Member of Parliament (MP) for Brampton West at the age of 26, making her one of the youngest women in Canadian history to achieve such a feat.  

Kamal Khera held a number of significant positions in the Canadian government before to taking on her current position. Her dedication to public service and improving Canadians’ lives was evident during her tenure as parliamentary secretary for health, national revenue, and foreign development. She also held the prestigious position of Minister of Seniors, where she was instrumental in addressing the concerns of older residents around the country.  

As Minister of Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera brings her experience, passion, and broad background to champion the rights and well-being of all Canadians, ensuring that no one is left behind. Her amazing immigration experience and major contributions to Canadian politics make her a driving force for positive change and development toward a more inclusive and fair society.   

Mary Ng  

Mary Ng, the newly appointed Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, has a tremendous public service and political career. She was born in British Hong Kong in 1969 and emigrated to Canada with her family when she was seven years old, where they opened a family restaurant in Toronto.  

Ng has 20 years of public service experience, having worked in the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ontario Cabinet Office. She also served as Policy Director to Ontario Education Minister Gerard Kennedy. She has been a committed representative of the Markham—Northhill riding since 2017. Ng’s considerable experience and diverse background make her an invaluable tool in crafting Canada’s international trade and economic development strategies.  

Pablo Rodriguez     

Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez has been appointed.  

The military government bombed Rodriguez’s family home during the “Dirty War” because his father had been active against them.  

The former Minister of Cultural Heritage, Leader of the Government House of Commons, and Chief Government Whip served in the federal government for several years. The Liberal Party’s Quebec Lieutenant Governor, Honoré-Mercier represents the Honoré-Mercier constituency since 2015.  

Harjit S. Sajjan  

In addition to being the new Minister of Public Safety, he has been appointed as President of Canada’s King’s Privy Council.  

Sajjan was born on September 6, 1970, in Punjab, India. He joined his father in British Columbia, where he had worked in a lumber mill two years before, when he was five years old, along with his mother and older sister.  

Prior to his present position in the federal government, Sajjan served in the military and law enforcement, as well as the Minister of Veteran’s Affairs, the Minister of National Defense, and the Minister of International Development. Since his election in 2015, he has represented the British Columbia riding of Vancouver South.  

Members of the new cabinet  

Gary Anandasangaree    

In the wake of Marc Miller’s resignation as Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Gary Anandasangaree has been named Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations.  

During the anti-Tamil riots of 1983, Anandasangaree and his mother fled the bloodshed of Sri Lanka, and came to Canada as refugees.  

As a lawyer and human rights campaigner, Anandasangaree worked before taking up his current position. Furthermore, he served as the legislative secretary to Carolyn Bennett, the previous Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations.  

Soraya Martinez Ferrada  

The next Minister of Tourism will be Soraya Martinez Ferrada.  

Originally from Chile, Martinez moved to Montreal’s East End in 1980 at the age of eight after growing up in Chile.  

Ferrada previously served as a City Council member in Montreal (representing Saint-Michel) and at the Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec Regions before becoming Minister of Tourism. Hochelaga is a riding in Quebec where she has served since 2019.   

Ya’ara Saks    

As the new Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Ya’ara Saks will be the Associate Minister of Health.  

Her dual citizenship makes her the first Canadian politician to hold dual citizenship. She is a citizen of both Canada and Israel and has lived in both countries throughout her life.  

Before entering politics, Saks worked in health and wellness. Her non-profit organization, Trauma Practice for Healthy Communities, promotes mental health and family well-being in Toronto’s York Center. Since 2020, she has represented York Centre in Ontario.  

Rechie Valdez  

Rechie Valdez has been named as the Minister of Small Business in her new role.  

Filipino-Canadian Valdez was born in Zambia in 1980 and became the first Filipino-Canadian woman in the Canadian legislature and the Supreme Court. As a nine-year-old, Valdez moved with her family to Zambia, then to Canada.  

Before entering politics, Valdez worked in finance. Afterward, she moved into the entertainment industry, competing on the Food Network Canada’s “The Big Bake” and hosting her own Filipino television show. She has been the representative for Streetsville in Ontario since 2020.  

Arif Virani  

Minister for Justice and Attorney General Arif Virani has been appointed.  

After the migration of Asians from Uganda in 1972, Virani, born to an Indian family in Uganda, first fled to Canada as a refugee. Prior to moving to Toronto, Virani’s family lived at the Stanley Street YMCA in Montreal.  

As parliamentary secretary, Virani worked for the previous Minister of Justice and Attorney General, as well as the Ministers of Canadian Heritage and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship prior to his appointment. As a member of the Ontario legislature, he represents the riding of Parkdale—High Park since 2015.