CGA-Canada Welcomes Labour Mobility Decision

VANCOUVER, Feb. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - The Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA-Canada) welcomes the dispute resolution panel's report released yesterday that confirms the government of Ontario must abide by their internal trade commitments and recognize the qualifications of out-of-province CGAs on the basis of mutual recognition.

The panel was formed to address a complaint made by the Government of Manitoba under the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).  The governments of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan supported the challenge as intervenors. These governments launched the challenge on the grounds that the Ontario regime causes or has caused injury to CGAs, impaired internal trade and was not justified to meet a legitimate objective. The panel report came at the conclusion of a comprehensive dispute resolution process which began almost 15 months ago.

The panel further recommended that Ontario comply with its AIT commitments by April 15, 2012 and remove any barriers for out-of-province CGAs.  Once this is done, CGAs outside of Ontario will be able to provide public accounting services to clients who require their services in Ontario. The outcome is momentous for CGAs, as it now removes the final barrier to mobility for CGAs authorized to practice public accounting in their home jurisdictions to practice anywhere in Canada. CGA-Canada calls on the Ontario government to fully implement the panel's recommendations by the deadline.

"This is the third time an independent panel has confirmed CGAs right to practice public accounting anywhere in Canada.  This is equally important for all professionals in Canada as it confirms mobility rights," says Anthony Ariganello, President and CEO of CGA-Canada. "Canada's political leaders deserve credit for continually improving the AIT in order to make it an effective tool for promoting the free movement of goods and services throughout the country."

CGA-Canada encourages political leaders to keep up the momentum by completing work on reforming the person-to-government dispute resolution process to make it more accessible and effective for individual Canadians, businesses and organizations.

The panel decision is subject to an appeal by the Ontario government.

To view a copy of the panel's report, visit: www.ait-aci.ca

About CGA-Canada
Founded in 1908, the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada serves 75,000 Certified General Accountants and students in Canada and more than 90 countries. Respected accounting and financial management professionals, CGAs work in industry, finance, government and public practice. CGA-Canada establishes the designation's certification requirements and professional standards, offers professional development, conducts research and advocacy, and represents CGAs nationally and internationally.

For more information on CGA-Canada visit:
www.cga.org/canada
www.facebook.com/cgacanada
www.twitter.com/cgacanada

Taylore Ashlie
Director, Communications
CGA-Canada
Telephone: [phone]
Cellular: 604 307-0212
Email: [email protected] 

Carole Presseault
Vice-President, Government & Regulatory Affairs
CGA-Canada
Cell: 613 796-0422
Email: [email protected]