Indian-Canadian Sikh MP Bardish Chagger has been named as the new Leader of the government in Canada’s House of Commons, becoming the first woman to hold the post in the country’s history.
Ms. Chagger (36), an MP from Waterloo who is also the Minister for Small Business and Tourism, was among 19 Indian-origin candidates who won in last year’s general election. Ms. Chagger’s parents had immigrated to Waterloo from India in the 1970s.
“This is a tremendous opportunity. I have been involved in the political process for basically my whole life,” Ms. Chagger told reporters on Parliament Hill after her swearing-in on Friday. The latest development makes her the first woman in Canadian history to hold the job of guiding government legislation through Parliament and replaces Dominic LeBlanc.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his “confidence in Minister Chagger as a worthy successor”, the report said, citing a government statement.
On the first day on the job, Ms. Chagger said she “really does believe that we can all work together”.
MP from Waterloo
Ms. Chagger, who was born and raised in the Waterloo region, attended the University of Waterloo where she was the president of the Young Liberals. She will retain her title as the Minister along with the new role. She is one of the four Sikh Canadians inducted into Mr. Trudeau’s Cabinet besides Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi and Innovation Minister Navdeep Singh Bains.
Ms. Chagger (36), an MP from Waterloo who is also the Minister for Small Business and Tourism, was among 19 Indian-origin candidates who won in last year’s general election. Ms. Chagger’s parents had immigrated to Waterloo from India in the 1970s.
“This is a tremendous opportunity. I have been involved in the political process for basically my whole life,” Ms. Chagger told reporters on Parliament Hill after her swearing-in on Friday. The latest development makes her the first woman in Canadian history to hold the job of guiding government legislation through Parliament and replaces Dominic LeBlanc.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his “confidence in Minister Chagger as a worthy successor”, the report said, citing a government statement.
On the first day on the job, Ms. Chagger said she “really does believe that we can all work together”.
MP from Waterloo
Ms. Chagger, who was born and raised in the Waterloo region, attended the University of Waterloo where she was the president of the Young Liberals. She will retain her title as the Minister along with the new role. She is one of the four Sikh Canadians inducted into Mr. Trudeau’s Cabinet besides Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi and Innovation Minister Navdeep Singh Bains.