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FROM: JUL-AUG 2008 ISSUE
UPDATE
Agreement Signed with CPA Australia
A mutual recognition agreement (MRA) between CGA-Canada and CPA Australia sets the terms for how members of the two associations can gain reciprocal membership and offers significant benefits, especially for those who work internationally or for multinational firms.
The agreement will raise the profile of both designations and identifies areas for joint initiatives, including research and advocacy, and gives members enhanced international mobility.
“This agreement will substantially increase the global reach of both of our organizations,” says Ron Colucci, FCGA, chair of CGA-Canada. “CGA-Canada has a long and proud history of delivering outstanding value to its members and advancing the profession internationally. Along with our distinguished new partner, CPA Australia, we can accomplish even more on the world stage.”
CPA Australia is the world’s seventh-largest accounting body, representing more than 117,000 finance, accounting, and business professionals. Its members work in 98 countries and are serviced by an international network of 18 offices.
Seeking MRAs with substantially equivalent accounting bodies is one of the pillars of CGA-Canada’s strategy. For accountants, holding recognized designations in two or more regulatory jurisdictions gives access to a broader market for their services.
“Opportunities for accountants are no longer constrained by national borders,” says Alex Malley, president of CPA Australia. “We believe that partnerships with influential accounting bodies, such as CGA-Canada, allow us to strengthen our position through knowledge-sharing and collaboration, which benefits our members and the profession.”
For more information about the agreement and reciprocal membership, visit cga.org/canada/alliances.
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Memories Sought as CGA Celebrates 100
“After a pleasant car drive and enjoyable dinner, the meeting was called to order by Mr. J. Leslie, President.”
So begins the official minutes of the second annual meeting of the Canadian Accountants Association, held June 29, 1910 at Dominion Park in Montreal. Much has changed since those days. Automobiles are not quite the novelty they were in 1910 and drives through congested city streets are seldom termed pleasant. Annual general meetings are not as collegial as when the entire association membership was comprised of Montreal area accountants who were all personally acquainted with each other. And considering the topics addressed in professional development sessions that year – department store accounting and best methods of collection – the profession is grappling with far more complex issues today.
As CGA-Canada celebrates its 100th anniversary throughout 2008, we invite members to share their own memories and stories of the past. Do you remember when room-sized computers were a brand new innovation that promised to revolutionize the profession? Send your memories to memories@cga-canada.org. A selection of the submissions will be posted on the anniversary website: cga.org/canada/100.
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Parliamentary Tributes
Canada’s parliamentarians have congratulated CGA on its centennial. The five CGAs serving in the House of Commons, Mike Allen, Serge Cardin, Massimo Pacetti, Yasmin Ratansi, and John Williams, all acknowledged the association’s anniversary in the house, while Senator David Angus paid tribute to the association in the Red Chamber.
“The CGA association representatives appear on a regular basis before committees of the House of Commons and the Senate, and provide much appreciated assistance in the Parliament’s legislative process,” said Angus. “Honourable Senators, I know from personal experience that the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce has benefitted frequently from expert opinions brought to it by the CGA association on bills and special studies before the committee.”
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Internal Trade Coalition Proposes Four Measures
A national coalition of business, industry, and professional associations led by CGA-Canada is urging the federal and provincial governments to cooperate in finding ways to strengthen the economic union and has released a position paper outlining how they might do so.
In the spring, the internal trade coalition issued a news release expressing support for the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement between British Columbia and Alberta, as well as recent trade negotiations between Ontario and Quebec. The coalition also released a position paper explaining the historical context of Canada’s internal trade issue along with, what it terms, “a bold approach” to addressing the problem.
The coalition is encouraged that the federal and provincial governments have begun to address long-standing issues with the dispute resolution mechanism under the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT). One approach to this, according to the coalition, is that Ottawa legislate a set of open trade principles and establish a standing internal trade tribunal to ensure that all parties adhere to those principles. It is also calling for implementation of all outstanding rulings by panels established under the AIT, and an agreement that all tribunal orders and existing panel decisions be subject to enforcement by the courts.
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CGA Congratulates Top Young Leaders
Forty young leaders from business, the public sector, academia and the not-for-profit sector were recognized at Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 awards ceremony on May 6 in Toronto. The awards recognize Canadians who have achieved a significant level of success, but have not yet reached the age of 40.
The Top 40 Under 40 program, founded and managed by The Caldwell Partners, is sponsored in part by CGA-Canada. It promotes mentorship and professional development by introducing these leaders to the established business community and by promoting them as role models for young Canadians.
Addressing the recipients, CGA-Canada President and CEO Anthony Ariganello, CPA (DE), FCGA, spoke about the need for strong leadership in a world of rapid change and complex problems.
“I don’t have to tell this group that great leadership never goes out of style,” said Ariganello. “We have many challenges in the world today, but also many exciting opportunities for positive change. And to move ahead, we’re going to need great leadership skill and dedication as never before.”
The list of award recipients and a summary of their accomplishments can be read at top40award-canada.org.
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INTERNATIONAL
Colucci Addresses Caribbean Accountants
CGA-Canada Chair Ron Colucci, FCGA, was among the distinguished speakers at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean 26th annual Caribbean Conference. Held at the end of June in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the three-day conference attracted accountants from throughout the region to discuss issues including the global economy, international accounting standards, and the integration of aspects of the Caribbean economies.
Colucci delivered a speech titled In Search of Transparency, which outlined the benefits of transparency in the context of international business. The prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning, and Fermin del Valle, president of the International Federation of Accountants, also spoke.
A number of high profile panelists spoke about issues facing the accounting profession, including a panel comprised of the governors of the central banks of Trinidad and Tobago, the Eastern Caribbean, and Barbados, who discussed the impact of recent global events on Caribbean economies.
CGA-Canada is an affiliate of ICAC, which provides a forum for the advancement of the profession in the Caribbean.
Prior to the conference, Colucci attended the CGA Caribbean admission to membership ceremony in Barbados where he congratulated the new CGAs, presented FCGA awards to the five regional recipients, and spoke on the subject of leadership.
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