News release

Revenue Minister announces appointment of Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Board

The CCRA is being established to provide the public, Canada's business community, the provinces, and territories with improved, more responsive, and cost-effective service. It will be able to pursue new business opportunities and partnerships with the provinces, the territories, and other government departments, and to reduce overlap and duplication.

"The Board of Management will provide guidance to the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency to ensure that it remains a world-class administrative organization," said Mr. Cauchon.

As previously announced, Mr. Rob Wright, currently Deputy Minister of National Revenue, will become Commissioner of the CCRA and Mr. Alain Jolicoeur will become Deputy Commissioner.

Mr. Turcotte will provide leadership to the Board, which will oversee the organization and management of the CCRA. The CCRA will assume the full mandate of Revenue Canada on November 1, 1999.

"Mr. Turcotte and the other Board members have been carefully selected for their skills and experience," said Mr. Cauchon. "They will bring regional sensitivity and valuable management expertise to the new CCRA."

The Board of Management will be part of a unique governance structure which differs from that of other government departments, Crown corporations, and agencies. While the Minister of National Revenue retains full accountability to Parliament and Canadian citizens for all the CCRA's activities, the Board of Management will oversee management policies related to resources, services, property, personnel, and contracts. Mr. Wright, who will be a member of the Board, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the CCRA.

Mr. Turcotte brings to the position a strong background in finance and administration. He was Senior Vice-President of the Quebec Region of the Royal Bank of Canada and was twice elected as Chairman of the Quebec Committee of the Canadian Bankers Association. He is currently active with many national and regional industrial, educational, and cultural organizations.

For media information, contact:

Michel Cléroux
Media Relations
Revenue Canada
(613) 957-3504

Suzanne Thébarge
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister and Secretary of State
(613) 995-2960

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
Board of Management

Chair
Michael L. Turcotte

Members

Daniel Audet
Camille Belliveau
Esmail Bharwani
Bernice Buckle
Delmore Crewson
Peter Dhillon
Michael Gourley
Linda Yvonne Ivany
James MacPhee
David Ordish
Susan Paish
John Penner
Stephen Rudin

Commissioner-Designate
Rob Wright

Deputy Commissioner-Designate
Alain Jolicoeur