Ottawa: Bardish Chaggar, the federal Minister of Small Business and Tourism, has been appointed Leader of the Government in the House of Commons – the first woman in Canadian history to be appointed to that position.
She replaces Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
An announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office said both Chaggar and LeBlanc will continue in their ministerial roles.
“This is a tremendous opportunity. I have been involved in the political process for basically my whole life,” Chagger told reporters on Parliament Hill about an hour after her swearing-in.
“I know what democracy should look like. Democracy should be engaging Canadians. That is the leadership of our prime minister and that’s why the whole of government approach will work for Canada.”
Chaggar was one of four Sikhs appointed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government after he won the last election.
