One of the first orders of business for the Council of the Federation should be a commitment by all provinces to the objectives and principles of an open domestic market. The Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA-Canada) made this assertion in a letter to the Premiers and territorial leaders for consideration at their upcoming meeting in Charlottetown.
"The Council of the Federation could take the lead in making Canada's domestic market open, efficient and stable in order to meet the challenges of globalized international markets," wrote Anthony Ariganello, CGA-Canada's President and Chief Operating Officer in his letter to the Premiers.
In the letter, CGA-Canada applauds and supports the formation of the Council of the Federation as an important means of improving intergovernmental relations in Canada.
"Of particular interest to our 58,000 members and students across Canada is that the Council can provide the leadership necessary to resolve domestic trade issues and establish an open market," said Mr. Ariganello. CGA-Canada believes such an open market would ensure that goods and services are traded freely from coast to coast, ensure the mobility of professionals such as accountants and better serve the public.
CGA-Canada has been a strong supporter of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) that came into force in July 1995 and believes the Council could provide the political will to ensure that its principles are being lived up to. By signing the AIT, all Canadian governments accepted national mobility for professionals, including accountants engaged in the practice of public accounting. However, serious barriers remain in some provinces, which need to be addressed by the new Council, Mr. Ariganello says.
A study commissioned by CGA-Canada in 2001 concluded that the AIT's dispute resolution provisions are slow, complicated, expensive and not respected by all governments.
"CGA-Canada believes the study and its recommendations are fair and reasonable," concluded Mr. Ariganello. "They could provide the basis for the Council of the Federation to take a lead role in bringing down domestic trade barriers".
In December 2001, in response to an appeal launched by Certified General Accountants, an AIT panel ruled that restrictions then in place excluding CGAs from practicing public accounting in Ontario, are a barrier to mobility and not necessary to protect consumers or financial markets. Subsequent government action in Ontario resulted in the passage of Bill 213, which has yet to be proclaimed.
CGA-Canada is a professional accounting body, representing 58,000 Certified General Accountants and students in Canada and abroad. The Association sets professional standards, develops education programs, publishes professional materials and develops national policy.
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