Shafqat Ali, a Member of Parliament from Brampton, has made history by becoming the first Pakistani-origin minister in Canada. He has been appointed as the President of the Treasury Board by newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Following his re-election in the recent federal elections, Shafqat Ali secured his seat in the House of Commons for a second consecutive term. His induction into the federal cabinet marks a significant milestone for the Pakistani-Canadian community, which has long awaited high-level political representation in Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently assumed office, announced a leaner federal cabinet, reducing the number of ministers from 39 to 29. Despite trimming the cabinet, Carney retained many key ministers in their existing portfolios, signaling continuity in core government functions.
In a notable reshuffle, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has been reassigned as Minister of Industry, while Anita Anand has been appointed as the new Foreign Minister, underlining Carney’s strategic repositioning of experienced leaders.
Shafqat Ali’s appointment has been widely praised by multicultural advocacy groups and is seen as a reflection of Canada’s evolving political landscape and its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
