If your feelings about the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) fluctuate with the size of your tax return, this news might keep your opinion in the black. The man at the helm, CEO William V. Baker, was given the 2008 Bissett Alumni Award for Distinctive Contributions to the Public Sector by the school of public policy and administration.
“This was an unexpected honour,” says Baker, BA/77, MA/79. “I was delighted to be recognized by my alma mater. I’ve been a strong advocate for the master’s degree in public administration since I graduated nearly 30 years ago.”
In granting the award, Susan Phillips, director of the school, said: “William Baker exemplifies the very best of leadership to public service and has made a distinctive contribution in promoting excellence in the management of large, complex organizations. He has helped implement innovative governance models in an increasingly complex world of service delivery. He has presided over the introduction of significant technological improvements and has dedicated himself to fiscal responsibility, public safety, and economic and social well-being.”
Baker’s career in the public service began with the Saskatchewan government in 1979, and then he held positions of increasing responsibility through the CRA’s evolution, including the director general of the policy and intergovernmental affairs directorate, policy and legislation branch; assistant deputy minister, appeals branch of Revenue Canada; and assistant commissioner of the compliance programs branch with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. In 2003, he became Canada’s first commissioner of firearms, returning to the CRA in 2006 as deputy commissioner of revenue.
In 2007, Baker was appointed commissioner and chief executive officer of the CRA, taking responsibility for maintaining the trust of Canadians in the agency’s integrity and reliability, identifying and securing new business, and engaging clients and stakeholders in delivering results.
“It was satisfying to see my work in the organization recognized and valued. The opportunity to lead is a real thrill,” says Baker.
As an Ottawa native, the public sector was a visible part of Baker’s community growing up, and his decision to study public administration was influenced by his natural interest in Canada and how it fits in the world. “Unlike an MBA, when you decide to take a degree in public administration, you are making a commitment to public service from the beginning,” he says. “The government is increasingly recognizing that commitment and today, the appreciation for the degree in public administration in the public service is higher than it’s ever been.”
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