News from CGA-Canada
FROM: SEP-OCT 2003 ISSUE
New Online MBA Partnership with Laurentian University
CGA-Canada and Laurentian University are pleased to announce the launch of the Laurentian Master of Business Administration (MBA) program in a new online format, making the MBA accessible to CGA members and senior CGA students. The 60-credit degree incorporates the CGA Program of Professional Studies, providing applicants with 30 credits of advanced standing.
Designed to enhance general management skills, the curriculum focuses on subjects such as organizational behaviour, marketing, operations, research, and strategy. The online distance education degree uses a Web-based delivery system that enables MBA students to participate anywhere, at any time, and knowledgeable faculty promote a progressive learning environment in which students are able to closely interact with both their instructors and an extensive network of management peers.
The program allows for considerable flexibility and can be completed in as little as 15 months at a reasonable cost. Applications will be accepted starting in late 2003, with courses slated to begin in June 2004. For more information on Laurentian's online MBA, go to www.cga-canada.org.
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Association Pursues Three Research Themes
At the Canadian Academic Accounting Association conference in Ottawa in June, CGA-Canada announced three research themes that the Association will pursue as part of its expanded commitment to research and policy development.
The three research themes are: corporate governance and the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector; business ethics; and international accounting and auditing standards. The three themes reflect the public policy issues that are most relevant to our members and are topics in which the Association has established some expertise.
The expanded commitment to research and policy development is a result of the Association's new Long-Range Strategic Plan, established by the Board of Directors in September 2002.CGA-Canada has always had a strong commitment to research, and its work in this area has often received wide recognition. However, the Association considers it important to expand its research and policy development work in order to more effectively respond to the issues emerging from the Enron collapse and other business irregularities.
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Luncheon Series Concludes
CGA-Canada's Economic News Luncheon series for 2002-03 concluded with presentations in May by Maurizio Bevilacqua, Secretary of State for International Financial Institutions, and in June by Simon Potter, president of the Canadian Bar Association.
Bevilacqua spoke about Canada's recent economic growth and success. Potter spoke about the future of self-regulating professions and the encroachment of government regulation.
The Economic News Luncheon series is organized by CGA-Canada'sOttawa-based Government Relations team. Held at the National Press Club in Ottawa, the luncheons attract members of the national media, federal politicians, and key members of the business community. The topics are timely issues of public policy interest and present an opportunity for CGA-Canada to stimulate discussion of these issues and to position CGAs as recognized authorities in their areas of expertise.
More information about these and other Economic News Luncheon presentations can be found on the CGA-Canada Web site.
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Member Benefits
Privacy Legislation
For Canadian organizations and for CGAs, privacy has emerged as one of the key business issues for 2003. The new federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) has established privacy rules that will apply to all organizations by January 1, 2004. To the extent that organizations collect, use and/or disclose personal information in the course of commercial activities, they will be obliged to comply with PIPEDA or substantially similar provincial laws.
In order to assist CGAs in meeting PIPEDA's obligations, the Association has developed the following privacy compliance tools, which are available on PD Network at www.cga-pd.net under the Business Knowledge section:
- The CGA Model Privacy Code;
- The CGA Model Privacy Protection Pledge;
- The CGA Model Frequently Asked Questions;
- The CGA Model Commitment to Privacy.
Another resource available on PD Network is a three-part article authored by Brian Bowman, a lawyer specializing in privacy legislation. The first part of the article provides CGAs with an overview of PIPEDA's application and obligations. The second and third parts, which will be posted in coming months, will provide information on critical compliance tools and challenges relating to ongoing compliance.
The CGA Association is also working with Industry Canada to obtain exemption status for members and Association staff who perform investigative work. Results of these discussions will be communicated to members as soon as the information become available.
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