Delhi-born Punjabi woman appointed Canada’s new health minister

Khera was born on February 4, 1989, in New Delhi. Her father Harminder Singh, who passed away in 2020, served in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), while her mother, Gursharan Kaur, was a teacher. Her elder brother Mani Singh is a mortgage specialist at Bank of Montreal.

Her family moved to Canada when she was 10 years old. There she went on to pursue a career in healthcare. She completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing from York University before working as a registered nurse in the palliative and oncology units at St  Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto. Her background in healthcare shaped her political journey, with a focus on social welfare and public health policies.

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Khera returned to her medical roots, volunteering at a hard-hit long-term care facility in Brampton and later administering vaccines in the community. “As a nurse, my top priority is to always be there to support my patients, and that’s the same mentality I’ll bring every day to the role of minister of health,” she said. “Extremely grateful for the confidence of PM @MarkJCarney. Now, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

Khera has remained closely connected to her roots. She visited Ludhiana in 2015 for her brother’s wedding, shortly after being elected as the Member of Parliament for Brampton West at the age of 26. During her visit, she openly spoke about the differences between politics in India and Canada, noting the heavy security surrounding Indian politicians. “We move around like ordinary citizens,” she said.

Recounting her journey into politics, Khera recalled that while working as a nurse in the oncology department at St Joseph’s Health Centre, she became increasingly aware of the growing gap between the rich and poor.

Her ancestral village of Bhagomajra near Mohali celebrated her re-election to Parliament in 2021. Villagers recalled her visit the previous December, when she connected with her community. Her grandfather, Mansa Singh, had donated land for a local gurdwara in the village.

Khera was first elected to the House of Commons at the age of 26, making her one of the youngest MPs in Canada’s history. As a member of the Liberal Party, she has consistently represented Brampton West, a riding with a significant South Asian population. Over the years, she has also been actively involved in community work, serving as chairperson of the South Asian Canadians Heritage Foundation, mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel, and coordinating events for the SickKids Foundation.

Speaking about Carney’s leadership, Khera said, “In these uncertain times, Mark’s leadership in bringing Canadians together and his economic expertise will help us deliver a true Team Canada response to President Trump.”

With her appointment, Khera joins fellow Indian-origin minister Anita Anand in the new cabinet. Anand, born in Nova Scotia to a Tamil father and a Punjabi mother, has been named minister of innovation, science, and industry after previously holding the transport and internal trade portfolio.