Rita Burak, O.Ont (born 15 June 1946) [1] was the chair of the board of Hydro One until 2008 and a former Canadian public servant and independent consultant.
Burak was born in New Jersey, United States [2] and moved to Canada in 1968. [3] She started as a private secretary in industry, and then began as a secretary for the Ontario Legislative Assembly in 1970. [4] She returned to get her bachelor's degree in political science, [5] which she received from Atkinson College, York University in 1977. [6] By 1982 she was the executive director of finance and administration at the Ontario Ministry of Labor. [4] In 1995 Burak was named as the head of civil service, [7] and she held the position of secretary of the Cabinet for the Government of Ontario from 1995 to 2000. [8] [3] When Burak interviewed with Mike Harris, the newly-elected premier of Ontario for the cabinet secretary position, she brought a copy of his plan that had been written out as the Common Sense Revolution and said she could implement the plan. [9] Her being appointed as cabinet secretary has been described as "an expression of the confidence in the public service's professionalism". [10] Harris was impressed by her interest in working on his plans, [11]: 101 and she was appointed as cabinet secretary with five days of Harris's election and in her new job she guided the transition team. [12] She was the first woman to serve as Ontario's cabinet secretary. [13] She was known for her focus on reducing duplicative efforts across offices, consolidating services within the ministry, [14] and doing so in a financially responsible manner. [15] [16] While serving in the role of cabinet secretary, Burak opted to not vote in elections in order to maintain political neutrality in the public service. [2] [16]: 249 The Globe and Mail columnist John Ibbitson wrote in 2000 that "Cabinet secretaries are always powerful, if unquoted, figures in government, but few were more powerful than Ms. Burak." [17]
Previously, she was Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs [17] [18] and Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Housing.[ when?]
When Burak stepped down as cabinet secretary she started a private consulting firm, The Network Executive Team. [19]
Burak was appointed chair of Hydro One in 2003, serving first as an interim chair, [20] [21] and ultimately as chair until she stepped down in 2008. [22] She also served as the chair of eHealth Ontario, stepping in to head the agency when issues arose about contracts with consultants, [23] [24] and continued to provide reports on means to improve the efficiency of agencies within the province of Ontario as recently as 2011. [25]
Burak is a recipient of the Order of Ontario (2001) [26] and the Canadian Public Policy Forum's Annual Testimonial Award (2004). [27]
Burak's spouse, Peter Barnes, was secretary of the Cabinet of Ontario from 1989 to 1992. [8] [17]
Rita Burak, O.Ont (born 15 June 1946) [1] was the chair of the board of Hydro One until 2008 and a former Canadian public servant and independent consultant.
Burak was born in New Jersey, United States [2] and moved to Canada in 1968. [3] She started as a private secretary in industry, and then began as a secretary for the Ontario Legislative Assembly in 1970. [4] She returned to get her bachelor's degree in political science, [5] which she received from Atkinson College, York University in 1977. [6] By 1982 she was the executive director of finance and administration at the Ontario Ministry of Labor. [4] In 1995 Burak was named as the head of civil service, [7] and she held the position of secretary of the Cabinet for the Government of Ontario from 1995 to 2000. [8] [3] When Burak interviewed with Mike Harris, the newly-elected premier of Ontario for the cabinet secretary position, she brought a copy of his plan that had been written out as the Common Sense Revolution and said she could implement the plan. [9] Her being appointed as cabinet secretary has been described as "an expression of the confidence in the public service's professionalism". [10] Harris was impressed by her interest in working on his plans, [11]: 101 and she was appointed as cabinet secretary with five days of Harris's election and in her new job she guided the transition team. [12] She was the first woman to serve as Ontario's cabinet secretary. [13] She was known for her focus on reducing duplicative efforts across offices, consolidating services within the ministry, [14] and doing so in a financially responsible manner. [15] [16] While serving in the role of cabinet secretary, Burak opted to not vote in elections in order to maintain political neutrality in the public service. [2] [16]: 249 The Globe and Mail columnist John Ibbitson wrote in 2000 that "Cabinet secretaries are always powerful, if unquoted, figures in government, but few were more powerful than Ms. Burak." [17]
Previously, she was Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs [17] [18] and Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Housing.[ when?]
When Burak stepped down as cabinet secretary she started a private consulting firm, The Network Executive Team. [19]
Burak was appointed chair of Hydro One in 2003, serving first as an interim chair, [20] [21] and ultimately as chair until she stepped down in 2008. [22] She also served as the chair of eHealth Ontario, stepping in to head the agency when issues arose about contracts with consultants, [23] [24] and continued to provide reports on means to improve the efficiency of agencies within the province of Ontario as recently as 2011. [25]
Burak is a recipient of the Order of Ontario (2001) [26] and the Canadian Public Policy Forum's Annual Testimonial Award (2004). [27]
Burak's spouse, Peter Barnes, was secretary of the Cabinet of Ontario from 1989 to 1992. [8] [17]