OTTAWA, Canada (Diya TV) — Disappointment rippled through Canada’s Indian diaspora this week after none of the Liberal MPs of Indian descent were named among the 39 Parliamentary Secretaries announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney, in what was widely expected to be an inclusive and forward-looking reshuffle aimed at “building Canada strong.”
While the extensive list of Parliamentary Secretaries includes representatives from a wide range of backgrounds and regions, the omission of MPs of Indian origin from the roster came as a surprise, especially given the active presence of 14 Indo-Canadian MPs in the Liberal caucus.
In announcing the appointments, Carney said the new team of secretaries would help deliver on his government’s ambitious mandate: “Canada’s new parliamentary secretary team will deliver on the government’s mandate for change, working collaboratively with all parties in Parliament to build the strongest economy in the G7, advance a new security and economic partnership with the United States, and help Canadians get ahead.”
The list includes high-profile names such as Karim Bardeesy (Industry), Jaime Battiste (Crown-Indigenous Relations), and Rachel Bendayan and Kody Blois (attached directly to the Prime Minister). Élisabeth Brière was named Deputy Chief Government Whip, while Arielle Kayabaga was appointed Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
Notably, four Indo-Canadian MPs remain in key positions within Carney’s Council of Ministers. Anita Indira Anand serves as Foreign Affairs Minister and is scheduled to embark on a two-day visit to the United Kingdom and France. Maninder Sidhu, the Minister of International Trade, is currently concluding a visit to France after touring several countries in South America. Ruby Sahota and Randeep Sarai also hold portfolios as Secretaries of State for Combatting Crime and International Development, respectively.
However, several senior MPs of Indian descent, including Sukh Dhaliwal, Anju Dhillon, Sonia Sidhu, and Bardish Chagger, were not tapped for new roles, raising concerns about equitable representation at the senior-most levels of parliamentary governance.
A government communiqué underscored the roles these new Parliamentary Secretaries will play in supporting cabinet ministers and secretaries of state across a broad range of portfolios—from energy and climate change to artificial intelligence, health care, and Indigenous affairs. This team, Carney noted, is expected to drive the government’s focus on economic revitalization, security partnerships, and cost-of-living relief.
Among the newly named Parliamentary Secretaries are Mona Fortier (Foreign Affairs), Peter Fragiskatos (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship), Maggie Chi (Health), and Taleeb Noormohamed (Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation). Yasir Naqvi, a Canadian of Pakistani descent, was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and International Development.
While the appointments were widely praised for including a diverse mix of gender and regional representation, the lack of inclusion of Indian-origin MPs in this particular round drew sharp notice, especially given their significant roles in Canadian politics over the past decade.
