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FROM: SEP-OCT 2007 ISSUE
UPDATE
Coalition Pushes Internal Trade
CGA-Canada participated in a coalition of leading Canadian business groups that pressed Canada’s premiers to fix the Agreement on Internal Trade’s (AIT) dispute resolution procedures.
The coalition expressed its concerns in a letter to the premiers in advance of the meeting of the Council of the Federation in Moncton August 8-10. The coalition called on the Council to make binding changes to the AIT’s dispute resolution mechanism so that it includes consequences for governments that fail to comply with their domestic trade obligations. It also called for a mechanism for private sector complainants to seek real remedies once a panel has found a government measure to be trade restrictive. In addition, the coalition urged the premiers to agree that this revitalized AIT apply to all government measures.
“The premiers need to show their commitment to an open, efficient, and predictable domestic market by reforming the AIT’s dispute resolution mechanism and eliminating internal trade barriers,” says Anthony Ariganello, CPA (Delaware), FCGA, president and CEO of CGA-Canada.
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New Research Funds
CGA-Canada and the Canadian Academic Accounting Association (CAAA) have announced a $20,000 grant for accounting-related academic research.
“This new research grant is another progression in the long relationship between CGA-Canada and the CAAA,” says Anthony Ariganello. “Both associations continue to explore opportunities to involve the academic community in applied research.”
Details about the application criteria will be available on the CAAA website at www.caaa.ca. The CAAA is dedicated to promoting excellence in accounting education and research in Canada. CGA-Canada is a long-time partner of the CAAA.
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Senior Academics Qualify as CGAs
CGA-Canada hosted a facilitated weekend workshop from May 18-21 in Whistler, B.C., for selected senior academics to complete the casework required for CGA certification. Eleven candidates successfully demonstrated the required competencies.
This was the second time the association offered a retreat for its Senior Academic Program, an accelerated program for academics that recognizes the expertise earned through their PhD studies and work experience.
The weekend retreat enables participants to complete the Professional Applications 1 and 2 casework in facilitated project teams rather than individually, accelerating the process and providing the opportunity to network with colleagues. Participants in both the 2007 and 2005 retreats rated the experience very highly.
Participants at the retreat were from the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba, Brock University, the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary, Grant MacEwan College, Simon Fraser University, St. Mary’s University, and the University of Saskatchewan.
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Economic Security for Women
The 21st report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women makes 21 recommendations for ensuring greater economic security for women and reflects the input of a CGA-Canada presentation.
Improving the Economic Security of Women: Time to Act, tabled in June, is based on 18 meetings the committee held since May 2006 with government officials, individuals, professional organizations, researchers, and representatives from various Canadian women’s groups. Carole Presseault, CGA-Canada’s vice-president of government and regulatory affairs, and former CGA-Canada chair Louise Nesterenko, FCGA, appeared before the committee in May and outlined the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. See www.cga.org/canada for the text of their presentation.
Presseault and Nesterenko are quoted throughout the report, particularly in the sections dealing with retirement income, childcare, Employment Insurance benefits, and financial and entrepreneurial literacy.
The Standing Committee on the Status of Women is chaired by a CGA, Yasmin Ratansi (Lib-Don Valley East). Improving the Economic Security of Women: Time to Act is available at www.gc.ca in the Parliament section.
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Fostering International Trade
CGA-Canada was title sponsor of the Fraser Institute’s third annual Canada Strong and Free dinner in Ottawa. The event, held May 8 at the National Gallery of Canada, featured a presentation by former Reform Party leader Preston Manning and former Ontario premier Mike Harris on the subject of international leadership.
CGA-Canada chair Jackie Poirier hosted a table that included Manning; the Hon. Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry; and members of parliament, Mike Allen, CGA, and Yasmin Ratansi, CGA.
The presentation by Manning and Harris was about defining a productive role in the world for Canada. The speakers recommended that Canada’s international efforts should be devoted to reducing trade barriers and helping nations that are committed to free markets.
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INTERNATIONAL
Chinese Faculty Visit Canada
Two delegations from Chinese universities visited Canada during the summer to learn more about the CGA program, CGA course materials, and Canadian teaching methods.
The first delegation included deans and associate deans of accounting programs at some of the 16 top-tier Chinese universities currently offering CGA courses. During the June 3-13 visit, the delegation visited UBC’s Sauder School of Business and Laurentian University’s School of Commerce and Administration. It also visited the CGA-Canada offices in Vancouver, where Lynda Carson, FCGA, vice-president, education and operational affairs, delivered a presentation on the CGA competency framework and the CGA course development process.
The second delegation, comprised of 19 accounting instructors from 11 different Chinese universities, arrived in mid-July for a more formalized program of training at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. Known as “Train the Trainers”, the five-week program familiarized the delegation with CGA course materials and instructional methodology. It also provided opportunities for the Chinese instructors to interact with Canadian faculty.
Chinese universities began offering CGA courses in 1994. There are approximately 350 CGAs and more than 1,400 students currently enrolled in the CGA program in China. These students study in English and complete the same CGA courses and examinations as Canadian students. As well, internationalized CGA course materials are used by Chinese universities in accounting courses for non-CGA students.
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Barbados Welcomes New CGAs
CGA-Canada chair Jackie Poirier welcomed 16 new CGAs to membership at the annual CGA Barbados dinner on June 23. Jennifer Hunte and Rueben Blenman were presented with their FCGA pins at the ceremony and recognized for their outstanding service to the association, the profession, and their communities.
After the Barbados event, Poirier attended the annual conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean in St. Kitts, where she participated in a panel discussion on the topic “harmonizing the Caribbean tax laws.” Her presentation can be read at www.cga.org/canada.
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New IFAC Online Center
The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has launched an online International Center for Professional Accountants in Business that offers resources for the more than one million professional accountants around the world employed in commerce, industry, the public sector, education, and the not-for-profit sector. The website provides relevant articles, publications, guidance, and links to other resources. As well, IFAC is seeking input to determine whether there is interest in establishing an online community of accountants in business to share knowledge and best practices. See www.ifac.org/paib.
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