Message from the Chair and President 

	Dany Girard, BBA, FCGA Chair, CGA-Canada
	Anthony Ariganello, FCGA, CPA (Delaware) President and CEO, CGA-Canada

We are pleased to present the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada Annual Report for the fiscal year 2005-06.

On reflection, 2005-06 has been a rewarding year for our association and for the CGA designation as a whole – a year of strong achievements and steady progress forward.

One of our most significant accomplishments in the past 12 months was the launch of a new Strategic Plan for our association. The process we undertook to finalize the new plan was comprehensive and rigorous. With input from a broad range of stakeholders and a thorough assessment of our current environment, we have created a dynamic new strategy to support the growth of our designation in the years ahead.

The plan emerges from three major themes that form the basis on which we will build all future activities:

1. To deliver high value to members
2. To be a leading player within our profession
3. To be a protector of the public interest ²

CGA-Canada’s success to date has been based on well planned and executed strategies – strategies that have secured a position of strength for the CGA designation in a rapidly changing environment. Our new strategic direction recognizes the importance of the current climate of change – the movement towards a global economy and the ongoing challenge of rebuilding confidence in the accounting profession. In addition, important professional factors come into play, such as further oversight, greater competition, global convergence and increased regulation.

Our six strategic goals are:

• ensure full professional equity for CGAs
• be the fastest growing designation
• be a value provider to the profession and the public
• protect and enhance our leadership position in the delivery of education, certification and continuing professional development
• increase our visibility and achieve high brand recognition and value
• ensure the health of the association.³

By fully aligning CGA-Canada’s operational plans and tactics with these goals, we continue to be well prepared to move CGA-Canada forward within this rapidly changing global environment.

As we look ahead, the thriving global economy will have a significant impact on our profession. Students will continue to rely on their national, provincial, territorial and offshore CGA associations to create an environment where they can meet the ever more complex demands of the marketplace. As we move forward, we intend not only to meet members’ and students’ needs today, but influence the critical role CGAs will play in the world of business tomorrow.

Our overarching commitment in the current environment is to protect the public interest. This is a vital element in our efforts to enhance the public’s confidence in the accounting profession and in the veracity of financial reporting and the auditing function overall.

Of special note this year is a decision to launch a request for a judicial review of the role the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB) plays in overseeing the performance of reporting issuers’ audits in Canada. This legal action against CPAB reflects our long standing view that this body lacks transparency, accountability and independence from the accounting profession, while enshrining the predominance of only one of the three Canadian accounting bodies. More on the background and rationale for this action can be found within the body of this report.

We are particularly pleased to note that in the recent past, CGA volunteers have secured important international appointments. Such bodies as the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the Interamerican Accounting Association (IAA) and the Fédération Internationale des Experts-Comptables Francophones (FIDEF) now benefit from strong CGA representation. A prime focus will be the development of suitable global accounting and auditing standards for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), so vital to the world economy.

No annual report would be complete without taking a moment to recognize the tremendous efforts of CGA volunteers, whose work for our designation is truly outstanding. It is only with the commitment of CGAs who represent the designation nationally and internationally, that we are able to, year after year, grow and achieve excellence. Thank you for your dedication to the CGA designation and to the vibrant future of the profession.

²Ibid., 7.
³Ibid., 37.

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