Born in 1957 at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Baker was a graduate of Dalhousie Law School.[2] He practiced law at Hennigar, Wells, Lamey & Baker in Mahone Bay and Chester and as a solicitor for the Town of Mahone Bay.[3] He was past president of Lunenburg County Barristers Association, member of Nova Scotia Barristers Society Council, and Director of Marine Atlantic.[2] Baker was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1999.[2]
Baker entered provincial politics in 1998, defeating Liberal incumbent Lila O'Connor by 132 votes in the Lunenburg riding.[4][5] In the 1999 election, Baker was re-elected, defeating O'Connor by over 2200 votes.[6] In August 1999, Baker was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Justice and Attorney General.[7] In December 2001, Baker was given an additional role in cabinet as Chair of Treasury and Policy Board.[8] In a December 2002 cabinet shuffle, Baker was moved to Minister of Transportation and Public Works.[9] He was re-elected in the 2003 election,[10] and was re-appointed as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, retained Chair of Treasury and Policy Board, and given a new role as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs in a post-election cabinet shuffle.[11]
When Rodney MacDonald took over as premier in February 2006, Baker was named Minister of Finance, and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.[12] In May 2006, Baker underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor,[13] but still ran for re-election in June 2006, winning his seat by 1300 votes.[14] Following the election, Baker retained his cabinet positions,[15] and continued to serve despite facing more serious health issues.[16] As of January 2009, Baker was still planning on reoffering in the next election, but his condition worsened and he stepped down from cabinet in February.[17] Baker died of cancer on March 2, 2009, at his home in Lunenburg. He was 52.[18]
