Gary Anandasangaree

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Gary Anandasangaree

| native_name = {{nobold|கரி ஆனந்தசங்கரி}}

| native_name_lang = ta

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|MP|size=100%}}

| image =

| caption =

| office = Minister of Public Safety

| primeminister = Mark Carney

| term_start = May 13, 2025

| term_end =

| predecessor = David McGuinty

| successor =

| office1 = Minister of Justice
Attorney General of Canada

| primeminister1 = Mark Carney

| term_start1 = March 14, 2025

| term_end1 = May 13, 2025

| predecessor1 = Arif Virani

| successor1 = Sean Fraser

| office2 = Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs

| primeminister2 = Mark Carney
Justin Trudeau

| term_start2 = December 20, 2024

| term_end2 = May 13, 2025

| predecessor2 = Himself (Crown–Indigenous Relations)
Dan Vandal (Northern Affairs)

| successor2 = Rebecca Alty (Crown–Indigenous Relations)
Rebecca Chartrand (Northern Affairs)

| office3 = Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

| primeminister3 = Justin Trudeau

| term_start3 = December 20, 2024

| term_end3 = March 14, 2025

| predecessor3 = Dan Vandal

| successor3 = Rebecca Chartrand

| office4 = Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations

| primeminister4 = Justin Trudeau

| term_start4 = July 26, 2023

| term_end4 = December 20, 2024

| predecessor4 = Marc Miller

| successor4 = Himself

| riding5 = Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park
Scarborough—Rouge Park (2015–2025)

| parliament5 = Canadian

| majority5 =

| term_start5 = October 19, 2015

| term_end5 =

| predecessor5 = Riding established

| successor5 =

| birth_name = Sathiyasangaree Anandasangaree

| birth_date = 1973

| birth_place = Jaffna, Sri Lanka

| citizenship = Canada
Sri Lanka (former)

| nationality = Canadian

| party = Liberal

| residence = Markham, Ontario, Canada{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2019app/51/table12E.html|title=Official Voting Results|publisher=Elections Canada|access-date=January 23, 2021|archive-date=April 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424102941/https://www.elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2019app/51/table12E.html|url-status=live}}

| alma_mater = {{Ubl|Carleton University|York University}}

| occupation =

| profession = Lawyer

| committees =

| portfolio =

| signature =

| website =

| parents = V. Anandasangaree

}}

Sathiyasangaree "Gary" Anandasangaree ({{langx|ta|சத்தியசங்கரி ஆனந்தசங்கரி}}) is a Canadian politician and a lawyer who has been Minister of Public Safety since 2025. A member of the Liberal Party, Anandasangaree was elected to the House of Commons in 2015 and currently serves as the member of Parliament (MP) for Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park.

Anandasangaree was previously the minister of Crown–Indigenous relations and northern affairs from December 2024 to May 2025 and minister of justice and attorney general of Canada from March to May 2025. He is a Tamil-Canadian, and the second minister of Tamil descent to hold office, following Anita Anand.

Early life and family

Anandasangaree, born in Jaffna in 1973, is the son of V. Anandasangaree, a leading Sri Lankan Tamil politician,{{cite news|last1=Ferdinando|first1=Shamindra|title=Canadian MP Rathika in hot water over Jaffna episode|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=95167|work=The Island (Sri Lanka)|date=January 3, 2014|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102643/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=95167|url-status=live}} by his second wife, Yogam.{{Cite web |title=Gary Anandasangaree Canada’s First Sri Lankan Tamil Cabinet Minister - Opinion {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/Gary-Anandasangaree-Canadas-First-Sri-Lankan-Tamil-Cabinet-Minister/172-264168 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English}} His parents separated in 1980 and he and his mother moved to Ireland, where she had relatives.{{cite web|title=Statement from Gary Anandasangaree|url=http://ekuruvi.com/gary-anandasangaree-2014-june/ekuruviTamilNews|publisher=ekuruvi.com|date=July 15, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630135028/http://ekuruvi.com/gary-anandasangaree-2014-june/ekuruviTamilNews|archive-date=June 30, 2015}} They had planned to return to Sri Lanka in July 1983; but when the Black July anti-Tamil riots broke out, Anandasangaree and his mother travelled to Canada on August 31, 1983.{{cite news|last1=Wong|first1=Jan|last2=Clark|first2=Campbell|title=Tamils force Ottawa to grab the Tigers' tail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tamils-force-ottawa-to-grab-the-tigers-tail/article1112521/?page=all|work=The Globe and Mail|date=January 8, 2005|access-date=August 28, 2017|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304142347/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tamils-force-ottawa-to-grab-the-tigers-tail/article1112521/?page=all|url-status=live}} Anandasangaree is estranged from his father and has only met him twice since 1983.

After high school Anandasangaree attended Carleton University, graduating in 1996 with a B.A. honours degree in political science.{{cite journal|title=Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau visits Tamil Fest Street Festival|journal=Monsoon Journal|date=September 2015|volume=10|issue=4|page=1|url=http://issuu.com/monsoonjournal/docs/mj_sep_2015_web|access-date=2015-10-24|archive-date=2016-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319221811/https://issuu.com/monsoonjournal/docs/mj_sep_2015_web|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Gary Anandasangaree To Seek Federal Liberal Nomination In Scarborough|url=http://www.seithy.com/breifArticle.php?newsID=94400&category=EnglishNews&language=english|work=seithy.com|date=October 7, 2013|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304214152/http://www.seithy.com/breifArticle.php?newsID=94400&category=EnglishNews&language=english|url-status=live}} He is married and has two children, Bairavi and Sahanah.

Career

Anandasangaree worked in real estate as a registered real estate broker between 1996 and 2006.{{cite web|title=Gary Anandasangaree|url=http://galaw.ca/gary_anandasangaree.php|publisher=Gary Anandasangaree and Associates|access-date=2015-10-24|archive-date=2015-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009205515/http://galaw.ca/gary_anandasangaree.php|url-status=live}}

Anandasangaree studied at the Osgoode Hall Law School, the law faculty of York University.{{cite news|title=Gary Anandasangaree elected to Canadian Parliament|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/gary-anandasangaree-elected-canadian-parliament|work=Daily News (Sri Lanka)|agency=Global News|date=October 20, 2015|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094229/http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/gary-anandasangaree-elected-canadian-parliament|url-status=live}} He graduated in 2005 with a LL.B. degree and was called to the bar in 2006.{{cite web|title=Grads create first-ever scholarship in Tamil studies|url=http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2014/10/14/grads-create-first-ever-scholarship-in-tamil-studies/|publisher=York University|date=October 14, 2014|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=September 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929014830/http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2014/10/14/grads-create-first-ever-scholarship-in-tamil-studies/|url-status=live}} Anandasangaree is the principal lawyer at Gary Anandasangaree and Associates, a Toronto law firm specialising in business, real estate and international human rights law.{{cite news|title=Gary A'sangaree launches bid for Federal Liberal nomination|url=http://ceylontoday.lk/51-44921-news-detail-gary-asangaree-launches-bid-for-federal-liberal-nomination.html|work=Ceylon Today|date=October 14, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He is a member of The Law Society of Upper Canada, Canadian Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association and South Asian Bar Association.

Anandasangaree has served on various community groups: Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce (president); Canadian Tamil Congress (counsel); Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre (chairman); Newcomer Grants for the United Way of Greater Toronto (member); Toronto Board of Trade (member); Toronto City Summit’s Emerging Leaders Network (member); and Youth Challenge Fund (board member). He has also lectured at the Centennial College Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. He has received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He has also been awarded the TREB Award and Henry Marshall Tory Award for Service.

Anandasangaree has been a vocal campaigner against human rights abuses during the Sri Lankan Civil War and has attended several sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council.{{cite news|title=Gary Anandasangaree wins in Scarborough-Rouge for Liberals|url=http://www.tamilcnn.ca/gary-anandasangaree-wins-in-scarborough-rouge-for-liberals.html|work=Tamil CNN|date=October 20, 2015|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=November 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118120420/http://www.tamilcnn.ca/gary-anandasangaree-wins-in-scarborough-rouge-for-liberals.html|url-status=live}} This has led to Sinhalese Buddhist nationalists labelling Anandasangaree as a member of the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).{{cite news|last1=Nathaniel|first1=Camelia|title=LTTE's Gary Anandasangaree To Enter Canadian Politics?|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2014/05/25/lttes-gary-anandasangaree-to-enter-canadian-politics/|work=The Sunday Leader|date=May 25, 2014|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=October 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025160223/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2014/05/25/lttes-gary-anandasangaree-to-enter-canadian-politics|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Jayasekara|first1=Bandula|title=Guerrilla diplomacy and Wild West tactics in Toronto|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=127761|work=The Island (Sri Lanka)|date=July 6, 2015|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=November 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118115312/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=127761|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Fernando|first1=Manjula|title=Govt to ban LTTE fronts?|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2014/03/30/new20.asp|work=Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)|date=March 30, 2014|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118022340/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2014/03/30/new20.asp|archive-date=November 18, 2015|url-status=live}}

Political career

Anandasangaree became active in politics after joining the Liberal Party.{{cite news|title=Sangaree's son Gary elected to Canadian Parliament|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=133863|work=The Island (Sri Lanka)|date=October 21, 2015|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222080211/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=133863|url-status=live}} In October 2013 Anandasangaree announced that he would be seeking the Liberal nomination for the Scarborough—Rouge Park for the 2015 federal election. He won the nomination election held in August 2014.{{cite news|title=Gary Anandasangaree of Liberal party won the nomination election for the Scarborough Rouge Park constituency|url=http://www.tamilcnn.ca/gary-anandasangaree-of-liberal-party-won-the-nomination-election-for-the-scarborough-rouge-park-constituency.html|work=Tamil CNN|date=August 21, 2014|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222113041/http://www.tamilcnn.ca/gary-anandasangaree-of-liberal-party-won-the-nomination-election-for-the-scarborough-rouge-park-constituency.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Anandasangaree's Son To Contest Canada's General Election|url=http://asianmirror.lk/news/item/2917-anandasangaree-s-son-to-contest-canada-s-general-election|work=Asian Mirror|date=August 22, 2014|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222092357/http://asianmirror.lk/news/item/2917-anandasangaree-s-son-to-contest-canada-s-general-election|url-status=live}} He won the election held on October 19, 2015, securing 29,906 votes (60.1%).{{cite news|title=Gary Anandasangaree – A Sri Lankan Tamil Origin Elected To Canadian Parliament|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/node/88067|work=Asian Tribune|date=October 21, 2015|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=October 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022185617/http://www.asiantribune.com/node/88067|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Gary Anandasangaree wins Scarborough-Rouge Park for Liberals|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/32755/gary-anandasangaree-wins-scarborough-rouge-park-for-liberals|work=adaderana.lk|date=October 20, 2015|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222104750/http://www.adaderana.lk/news/32755/gary-anandasangaree-wins-scarborough-rouge-park-for-liberals|url-status=live}}

Anandasangaree continued his advocacy for human rights in Parliament, speaking on International Human Rights Day about welcoming Syrian refugees and an Iranian scholar (Dr. Hossein Raessi) who was protected due to a joint program between Carleton University and University of Ottawa.Hansard, 2015-12-10 14:12 [p.236]

Anandasangaree sat on the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development committee in the 42nd Canadian Parliament.{{cite web|last1=McGregor|first1=Janyce|title=Meet the Commons committees of the 42nd Parliament|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/house-commons-standing-committees-list-1.3425906|publisher=CBC News|access-date=1 February 2016|archive-date=31 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131235712/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/house-commons-standing-committees-list-1.3425906|url-status=live}} He was Parliamentary Secretary to Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller in May 2021, and on December 3 of that year was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-03|title=Prime Minister welcomes new parliamentary secretaries|url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/12/03/prime-minister-welcomes-new-parliamentary-secretaries|access-date=2021-12-07|website=Prime Minister of Canada|language=en|archive-date=2023-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708170106/https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/12/03/prime-minister-welcomes-new-parliamentary-secretaries|url-status=live}}

On July 26, 2023, Anandasangaree became the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-26 |title=Prime Minister announces changes to the Ministry |url=http://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2023/07/26/prime-minister-announces-changes-ministry |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Prime Minister of Canada |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726150308/https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2023/07/26/prime-minister-announces-changes-ministry |url-status=live }}

In the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, he endorsed Mark Carney.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-21 |title=Northern MP backs Carney in Liberal leadership race |url=https://www.timminstoday.com/local-news/northern-mp-backs-carney-in-liberal-leadership-race-10108300 |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=TimminsToday.com |language=en}}

Electoral record

{{2025 Canadian federal election/Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2021|Scarborough—Rouge Park|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|350|0.8}}

{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Canada{{cite web |title=List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election |url=https://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand/lst&document=index&lang=e |website=Elections Canada |access-date=2 September 2021 |archive-date=15 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215213323/https://elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand%2Flst&document=index&lang=e |url-status=live }}}}

References

External links

{{Canadian Parliament links| parliament = 89449 | parlinfo = 18538 | openparl = gary-anandasangaree}}

{{Justin Trudeau Ministry}}{{Ministers of justice and attorneys general of Canada}}{{Current Members of the Canadian House of Commons}}{{G7-Interior}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Anandasangaree, Gary}}

Category:Activists from Toronto

Category:Attorneys general of Canada

Category:Canadian activists

Category:Canadian people of Sri Lankan Tamil descent

Category:Carleton University alumni

Category:Lawyers in Ontario

Category:Living people

Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs

Category:Members of the 29th Canadian Ministry

Category:Members of the 30th Canadian Ministry

Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada

Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario