By: Harrish Thirukumaran
As part of the federal cabinet shuffle on March 14, 2025, Hon. Gary Anandasangaree has been appointed as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General. He shall be assuming these portfolios alongside his duties related to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.
CBC News reported that it will be part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s focus on decreasing the size of cabinet to focus on economic and trade challenges affecting Canada. Specifically, this position relates to United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada.
In a recent CBC interview following his appointment on March 14, Anandasangaree mentioned that “Canadians need leadership right now, focused on the economy. Very much ensuring that the impacts of the tariffs are limited but at the same time, building the economy, the newer economy that Canadians deserve.”
For readers who may be unfamiliar, especially in the South Asian community, Minister Anandasangaree is an internationally recognized human rights lawyer and a strong advocate for legal reform and access to justice. Additionally, he has also represented Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada at the United Nations, as detailed by Law Times.
He has also served as chair of the Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre, president of the Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce, and counsel to the Canadian Tamil Congress.
He was legal counsel to the Independent Mortgage Brokers and Agents, a board member of the Youth Challenge Fund, a member of the Toronto Police Chief’s Advisory Board, and a member of the United Way Newcomers Grant Program.
Anandasangaree obtained his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the bar in 2006. He later established and managed his law firm in Scarborough.
Lynner Vicars, President of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), has also commented on Minister Anandasangaree’s appointment.
“We look forward to working with him and his cabinet colleagues. We also want to thank former minister Arif Virani for his commitment to improving the justice system over the past few years, including his efforts to reduce judicial vacancies and strengthen access to justice.”
Anandasangaree’s new appointments come amid a snap early election call by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Regarding this current political climate and taking on these new portfolios, Minister Anandasangaree has stated that “I have been meeting with my teams already, and just, given the limited time I have, I have been meeting them in cars and car rides. My instruction is to go full steam ahead on the portfolios. Both Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs as well as Justice and Attorney General to ensure that we continue the work.
We will continue to work for Canadians. This is a moment where Canadians need its government to be at its best, and we’ll continue to do that work.”
On March 23, 2025, Prime Minister Carney has, as anticipated, called a federal election, with Canadians heading off to the polls on April 28, rather than legally scheduled for October 20, 2025.
Any further major official government business under Minister Anandasangaree’s oversight would have to be put on hold as part of the caretaker convention, as Canada’s national political parties are off on the campaign trail.
More detail on the upcoming spring federal election can be found on page 4 in the March 2025 issue of the Monsoon Journal.
