Bill was elected as the NDP member of Parliament for Assiniboia from 1971 to 1974. He was elected by his caucus to be the Chief Whip for the minority Parliament of 1972 to 1974. He also participated in the House finance committee and the regional development in public accounts committee. He has been the president and CEO of the Credit Union Central of Canada, as well as the first commissioner of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. Bill has the ICD.D designation (Institute of Corporate Directors, Director) and is presently on the board of directors of the Broadbent Institute.