top stories

• ACCA Canada experienced a record level of growth in 2007; membership gained an astonishing 25.5% and the number of new ACCA students increased by an even larger amount, up over 30% from the same period in 2006. A good part of this vigorous growth was due to the signing of the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with CGA-Canada at the end of 2006. The global agreement, the first for ACCA, not only brings together two international associations with similar values and approaches, but also reflects the continuing globalisation of the profession. The agreement provides a short route for members of each body to become members of the other association. 
• ACCA Canada continues to improve recognition within the Canadian marketplace and among policy makers. Meetings were held with Ontario Government ministerial staff and legislators on several occasions to brief them on ACCA’s progress in Canada and abroad, and to advance its position on recognition.
• ACCA worked with the federal Competition Bureau to contribute information to its significant review of the competitiveness of the self-regulated professions, in which accountants figured prominently. In addition to making two written submissions, staff met twice with senior Bureau personnel to advance our position on current competitive barriers that exist. The Bureau’s report, issued in December, reflected many of the important issues raised by ACCA. Specifically, the report recommended that regulators consider expanding accessibility to several services, including independent audits. The Bureau will be monitoring activity and plans on revisiting the study in two-years' time to assess the progress made by the accountancy professions in implementing their recommendations.
• ACCA deputy president Richard Aitken-Davies and ACCA Canada staff met with the CEO and new Chair of the Ontario Public Accountants Council. The Council’s progress toward licensing public accountants of bodies other than Chartered Accountants was discussed. The meeting built on the cooperative spirit of previous meetings with Council members and staff.
• ACCA Canada maintained an active programme of sponsorship in 2007. This included the following high profile events: The Human Resources Professionals of Ontario Annual Conference; the Financial Executives Institute Annual Conference; and the Canadian Business for Social Responsibility Annual Conference. ACCA also manned information booths at CGA-Canada Affiliates’ Annual Conferences in Victoria, Calgary, Saskatoon, Brandon, Halifax, St John, Moncton and Toronto. ACCA Canada was a lead sponsor for the Conference Board of Canada’s Annual Corporate Governance Conference. 
• ACCA Canada hosted a table of senior members, partners and tuition providers at the Financial Executives Institute Annual CFO of the Year Award Dinner.

Members’ achievements

• In May, ACCA Canada elected a new committee chair, Phil Hodgson of PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada.
• At the graduation ceremony held in Toronto in July, ACCA Canada recognised 38 members who had achieved over 25 years as ACCAs, as well as welcoming 31 new graduates to membership.

Back to top