Photo caption:  Justin Trudeau seen with members of the Indo-Canadian Foundation./ newseastwest.com

Welcoming the appointment of a record four Indo-Canadians as Cabinet ministers by new prime minister Justin Trudeau, the Indo-Canadian community expects that this historic development will pave to the way brighter India-Canada relations.
Ajit Someshwar, chairman of the Canada India Foundation (CIF), said, “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must be commended for achieving gender parity and for reflecting Canada’s ethnic diversity in his cabinet. The inclusion of four members of Indian origin in the cabinet, out of a record total 19 Indo-Canadian MPs elected, is a matter of great pride for all Indo-Canadians.’’
He said, “The appointment of four ministers is a good start for the inclusion of other communities.’’
Stressing the conclusion of the impending free trade treaty between India and Canada, Someshwar said, “We hope that Prime Minister Trudeau will continue to enhance relationship with India and boost bi-lateral trade between the two countries which still remains far below potential. The Canada India Foundation will support the new government in achieving this objective.”
Metal and minerals businessman and CIF convenor Anil Shah said, “With Canada’s huge metals and mineral resources and India’s growing appetite for them, there is a great path to be paved between the two countries and I am sure Mr. Trudeau will create that to further enhance the growing relationship between two countries. Prime minister Narendra Modi’s vision and buildup of infrastructure development in India would assist and enhance further the relations.’’
Shah added, “We look forward to working closely with key ministers in the new government, particularly, Minister of International Trade, Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Refugees, John McCallum and Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, in on matters of interest to CIF, namely, growth of trade between Canada and India and conclusion of the free trade agreement, family reunification, and attracting high caliber scientific and technical professionals from India.”
He wanted Canada follow the US where the wealth of talent from India is credited with the vast number of start-ups in Silicon Valley.
Herb Dhaliwal, who became the first Indian-origin Cabinet minister anywhere in the western world when he was appointed Canada’s revenue minister in 1997, called the appointment of four Indo-Canadians as cabinet minister “a great day for Canada which is leading the world in inclusiveness.’’
Dhaliwal, who held the Cabinet post from 1997 to 2004, said, “It was just me back then, and today we have four cabinet ministers in Canada. It reflects a new Canada. It makes me feel proud that we created an opening and now we have so many cabinet ministers. People in India would be proud of what the Indo-Canadians have achieved.’’
Former Canadian health minister Ujjal Dosanjh, who too made history in 2001 by becoming the first-ever non-white premier in Canada when he was elected to top post in British Columbia, said, “The appointment of four Indo-Canadians as cabinet ministers is another big step in the community’s history in Canada.
“We have been in Canada for more than a hundred years. It (the appointment of four Indo-Canadians as cabinet ministers) is the new normal now. It is a huge step in the history of the Indo-Canadian community.’’
Nachhttar Singh, president of the Trucking Association of India based in Mississauga on the outskirts of Toronto, said, “The inclusion of four Indo-Canadians in the federal cabinet speaks about Canada. This shows the respect we have earned in Canada.’’

This article first appeared on newseastwest.com. See http://newseastwest.com/canada-india-foundation-lauds-trudeau-for-appointing-4-indo-canadian-ministers/