In an open letter to the Prime Minister, the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA-Canada) today called on the Martin government to place four priority issues high on its agenda over the next year. The list includes advances in the areas of trade, public confidence, tax reform and government finances.
Specifically, the CGA-Canada priorities list contains the following recommendations:
- Improve Interprovincial Trade
The Martin government and its ministers should work closely with the provincial Premiers in establishing an open internal market to ensure that goods and services are traded freely from coast to coast. Such an open market would increase mobility of professionals, enhance competitiveness and improve services.
- Reform Institutions to Strengthen Public Confidence
In the post-Enron world, CGA-Canada believes that a critical precondition to restoring investor confidence lies in ensuring that Canadians are provided with clear, accurate and transparent financial information. Canada must reform its institutions and adopt rules, regulations and processes that demonstrate its commitment to restoring confidence in its capital markets.
- Reform the Tax System
The time has come to examine how the federal tax system can be made more fair, simple and responsive. Tax rates must be efficient for business and personal income tax rates must be lower.
- Improve Accountability and Public Finances
CGA-Canada applauds the government’s announced program review. More can be achieved if the new Cabinet Committee on Expenditure Review publishes information that will allow Canadians to judge for themselves whether the objectives of cost effectiveness in the expenditure of public dollars are being met.
"We look forward to Prime Minister Martin’s response to CGA-Canada’s priorities in his government’s upcoming Throne Speech and federal budget," said Anthony Ariganello, CGA-Canada President and Chief Operating Officer. "As we pointed out in our memorandum, these proposals are reasonable, modest and achievable."
John Nagy, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of CGA-Canada agrees. "As a professional association with members from coast to coast, we feel it’s important for the government to pay full attention to these critical issues."
CGA-Canada is a professional accounting body, representing 60,000 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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