By IANS
Toronto : Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has appointed Deepak Obhrai, the highest-ranking Indian in his ministry and MP for Calgary East, parliamentary secretary to the minister of international cooperation.
Obhrai will also retain his current position of parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs that he has held since February 2007.
“I am very pleased that the prime minister and the government have found confidence in me to grant me this additional responsibility,” Obhrai said.
“Vested with these dual responsibilities, I intend to do my utmost to ensure that Canada stands proud and tall on the world stage and Canadian interests are well represented both at home and abroad.”
Obhrai, who was in India last month with the foreign minister, said: “Thus far I have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier and his predecessor Peter MacKay. Similarly, I look forward to working closely with International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda.”