Message from the Chair

Each year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) develops a Corporate Business Plan that outlines its strategic direction and outcomes for the next three years. The focus of this year’s plan is to provide a longer term outlook and strategic response to challenges facing the organization over a five to ten year period. The Board of Management has overseen the development of this plan and will monitor progress against its implementation.

The Board’s priorities are described in the section Agency Governance and the Board of Management and are organized according to the Board’s areas of responsibility mandated to it by the Canada Revenue Agency Act – the oversight of the CRA’s management of resources, services and personnel, and of its organization and administration.

The Board’s key areas of focus are to improve the governance of the CRA risk management regime, and to provide effective oversight of services to help the CRA pursue its vision of becoming a model tax and benefit administrator, and a recognized service leader.

To this end, in exercising its risk governance role, the Board will ensure that CRA risks are identified, mitigated and considered in a systematic manner, in all aspects of the CRA decision-making processes.

Another priority will be to oversee the development of CRA long-term strategies, including overseeing strategy approval and implementation, particularly in the CRA areas of challenge for the period: service, information technology, and human resources.

On the service front, the Board will oversee and review the CRA Service Strategy, which is aimed at strengthening service to make compliance easier for taxpayers and benefit recipients, while ensuring the most efficient and effective use of CRA resources.

Meanwhile, the Board will continue to look for ways to improve its own governance practices and effectiveness. It will do so by ensuring continued improvements to the Board of Management Oversight Framework, strengthening its risk governance role, and conducting an overall review of its current processes and practices.

I am confident the Board's contribution will help the CRA meet the ambitious agenda it has set for itself. I am pleased to recommend the Summary of the Corporate Business Plan 2010-2011 to 2012-2013 to the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue.

Susan J. McArthur
Chair, Board of Management

Date modified:

2010-05-06