Canada’s national accounting organization plans to roll out a new membership model this fall that will allow accountants in Ontario and Quebec to continue their registration with CPA Canada once the two provinces split from the federation later this year.
CPA Canada chief executive Pamela Steer told the group’s membership during a recent information session that work is already “well under way” to ensure that chartered professional accountants in Ontario and Quebec will be able to choose to remain a part of the national body.
“We have heard from thousands that you value your CPA Canada membership and despite your regulator deciding to leave the federation, you want to stay a part of [CPA Canada],” Ms. Steer said during the online session. “It will absolutely be possible as an individual to belong to your national body – and I plan to be member No. 1.”
The announcement was made to CPA members on the one-year anniversary of CPA Ontario and the Quebec CPA Order’s decision to break away from the national organization, formed more than a decade ago by a collaboration accord.
Ms. Steer did not provide further details on how the new individual model will operate, but said during the session that the fall rollout will ensure there is enough time for CPAs to adjust. As well, she said, the new model will not increase the price of CPA Canada membership – which is currently about $400 a year, on top of their provincial membership fees.
CPA Canada creates the certification exam for chartered accountants, publishes the standards for the organization’s handbook used in all provinces, and advocates for the profession.
Currently, CPA Canada’s members are the industry’s 13 provincial and territorial regulatory bodies – including CPA Ontario and the Quebec CPA Order. Individual accountants cannot register directly with CPA Canada. Rather, to be a member of CPA Canada, a CPA must be a member in good standing with a provincial regulatory body, CPA Ontario spokesperson Kathryn Hanley said an an e-mail.
“We expect these requirements to continue under any new proposals from CPA Canada to offer voluntary membership,” Ms. Hanley said.
On June 20, 2023, CPA Ontario and the Quebec CPA Order shocked thousands of accountants when the two organizations separately announced their intentions to end their formal relationship with CPA Canada, starting an 18-month withdrawal process. The move breaks up a national organization that unified three groups of accountants who did different kinds of work.
Both provinces said a split would provide the organizations with more direct oversight of the profession.
Since then, during several town halls and information sessions, members have continued to question the motive for the move by Ontario and Quebec, stating that the bodies did not consult members prior to the decision to end the relationship.
Now, with less than six months to go until the two bodies separate, member concerns have not waned. During the recent CPA Canada information session, members asked what the breakup would mean for the integrity of the accounting profession in Canada – particularly among global peers.
“CPA Canada is the international representation at international boards, committees and organizations such as the Global Accounting Alliance, and I don’t think that is going to change,” Ms. Steer told the membership. “We will continue to consult across Canada as we look to gather in as many opinions on different topics and as many thoughts as possible so that we can take Canada to the world.”
Members also questioned the organization on where the three groups are at in terms of negotiating and signing new agreements. Some members were under the assumption that a new education agreement has already been signed between CPA Canada and the two provinces.
Ms. Steer clarified to members that the three organizations had reached a “tentative agreement” last November. In a press release issued on Nov. 27, CPA Canada, along with Ontario and Quebec, issued a joint statement saying they had “agreed upon terms to maintain the uninterrupted educational journey of CPA students in Ontario and Quebec.”
“Pursuant to that, we are continuing to work with Ontario and Quebec on working through the issues to finalize agreements, which we still have yet to do,” Ms. Steer added.
Asked about whether any other agreements have been signed that would cover other areas of collaboration, Ms. Steer said there have not been any further agreements created with Ontario and Quebec.
“We look forward to reaching a conclusion at some point in the near future,” she added.
The Globe and Mail reached out to CPA Canada, CPA Ontario and the Quebec CPA Order separately to ask if they have been a part of any conversations with each other about education agreements, certification programs or international agreements.
A joint statement provided by CPA Canada spokesperson Pat Jordan said all three bodies are “actively engaged in advancing new ways of working together” but, “out of respect for the process, we are limited in what we can discuss publicly.”
With reports from David Milstead