Newly-elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has included three Sikhs in his  cabinet on Wednesday. The 42-year-old Justin Trudeau took oath as the country's 23rd prime minister. 42-year-old Indian Canadian Harjit Sajjan was appointed as defense minister, 38-year-old Navdeep Bains got the portfolio of innovation, science and economic development. Another Sikh, Amarjeet Sohi, who is not turbaned, has been sworn in as minister for infrastructure. A young woman Bardish Jhagger is sworn in as minister for small business and tourism.

While hailing the appointment of four Indian-Canadians as cabinet ministers by Canada's new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, top Indian-Canadian leaders said this is a historic development which will herald a new era in India-Canada relations.

Navdeep Bains, has played a key role in Trudeau's election as the Liberal Party leader in 2013, is awarded with a cabinet berth. A total of 19 Indian-Canadians were elected to Canada's parliament in the elections held in October.

Dhaliwal, who was holding the Canadian cabinet post from 1997 to 2004, said, "It reflects a new Canada which is leading the world in inclusiveness. It makes me feel proud that we created an opening and today we have four cabinet ministers. People in India must be proud of it."

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. His inclusion of four members of Indian origin in the cabinet, out of a record of 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."

Former Canadian health minister Ujjal Dosanjh said, "The appointment of four Indo-Canadians to the cabinet 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 norm now. This is a huge step in the history of the Indo-Canadian community."

By Premji