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India-born former soldier sworn in as Canada's new defence minister

Sajjan will oversee an anticipated change in Canada's military involvement in battle against militants in Syria &...

Reuters November 05, 2015

canada 039 s new national defence minister harjit sajjan gestures after being sworn in during a ceremony at rideau hall in ottawa canada november 4 2015 photo reuters

Canada's new National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan gestures after being sworn-in during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Canada, November 4, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

OTTAWA: Harjit Sajjan, a former police officer and veteran of three military deployments to Afghanistan, was named Canada's new minister of defence on Wednesday, bringing first-hand expertise to one of the country's top cabinet positions.

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Sajjan will oversee an anticipated change in Canada's military involvement in the battle against militants in Syria and Iraq. Newly sworn-in Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already said he wants to end Canada's air strikes in the region in favour of providing humanitarian help.

Born in India and elected to Parliament for the first time in last month's election, Sajjan is illustrative of the younger, more diverse cabinet Trudeau had aimed to create.

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Outgoing Conservative defence minister Jason Kenney had taken a hardline stance on security, saying Canada needed to be fighting against Islamic State militants to prevent them from becoming a threat to Canada.

The issue has been at the forefront in the last year since a gunman killed a soldier and stormed Canada's Parliament last October.

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Sajjan is a Lieutenant-Colonel in Canada's armed forces and was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan and Bosnia-Herzegovina. He was Canada's first Sikh commanding officer and received a number of recognitions for his service, including the Order of Military Merit.

Sajjan was also a police officer in Vancouver for 11 years, which included working as a detective in the gang crime unit. He won the riding of Vancouver South where he grew up, defeating a Conservative incumbent.

He is married with two young children.

COMMENTS (8)

Afzal | 9 years ago | Reply @A.S.Malhotra: Hooray to this Canadian Sikh man on his achievement. He is unlikely to listen to unholy men like the current defence minister of India. He must be far more civilised human than our short sighted breed of barbarian neighbours. A great pride for The Sikh community, who knows one day with such eminent people among them the now dormant Khalistan movement could gain momentum.

Muhammad | 9 years ago | Reply @A.S.Malhotra: Hooray to this Canadian Sikh man on his achievement. He is unlikely to listen to unholy men like the current defence minister of India. He must be far more civilised human than our short sighted breed of barbarian neighbours. A great pride for The Sikh community, who knows one day with such eminent people among them the now dormant Khalistan movement could gain momentum.

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Shahid Salam | 9 years ago | Reply @Hameed: Sikhs have served in the Indian Armed Forces at the highest levels including the position of Chief; the present Indian Army Chief is Bikram Singh. Before Modi, Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister. They are in every sphere of public service in India.

A.S.Malhotra | 9 years ago | Reply It is great pround and prestige for India that Indian Born Harjit Sajjan has has been honoured as National Defence Ministrr o of Canada in august ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Nov 04, 2015 for his precious contributions and achievements in the armed forces at Canada by way of deployment in various countries like Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq to curb the terrorists activities by militants. Hopefully, our Defence Minister to share with Harjit Sajjan at diplomatic level to sto mutual experience to tackle terrorist activities in India.

Hameed | 9 years ago | Reply Let's see him becoming anything in his home India. Unless he has called for cutting someone's throat or kicked a child or allowed communal riots, his chances of becoming a minister in India are slim to none.

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply Headline is confusing. He was born in India but has served in Canadian Armed Forces, not in Indian Army. Canadian Indians don't have dual national absurdity, therefore he is a true Canadian.

Aamir - Toronto | 9 years ago | Reply Beauty of a true democracy !!!!

Shahid Salam | 9 years ago | Reply There are four Indian-Canadians, two of them Sikhs in the new Canadian Cabinet and one 30 year old Afghan woman who came to Canada with her family as a refugee. Few countries can boast of such diversity in their Government. Additionally, the new Cabinet has equal gender participation; 50 percent men and 50 percent women. The latter was a commitment Trudeau had made in his election bid; not something I personally agree with, because I feel merit should trump gender in awarding Ministerial portfolios.

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