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11:02 PM
I sat as a director of CGA Ontario for seven years; was Chair of the Board of Directors for CGA Ontario from June 2011 to June 2012 and left the Board this past June. During my term on the Board and specifically during my term as vice-Chair and Chair of the Board, I was one of the people most closely tied to discussions – certainly at the Ontario level; and to a lesser degree at the National level. I participated in many, many meetings with our affiliates; our National body; representatives of the ICAO, CMAO, the CICA and CMAC. I directly participated in two or three dozen town hall/member forum meetings with members across Ontario.
Based on my direct participation in discussions/negotiations in Ontario and nationally; and my direct involvement in the leadership of CGA Ontario I believe I have a fairly informed opinion about what has transpired over the last three years.
I have sent my proxy vote to CGA Ontario to vote AGAINST the CGA Canada integration.
Being for or against a merger here in Ontario is irrelevant to the question that CGA Canada has posed to its members. One is completely independent of the other (see CGA Quebec and CPA Quebec as an example of this) and a decision to merge at a national level will not compel a merger at the provincial level. To me, the salient points to consider when deciding how to cast your vote are (sorry it’s a bit long, but there are lots of points to consider):
(1) Except for in Quebec, no other provincial jurisdiction has passed legislation legally bringing into force CPA. Some provinces might not have legislation for a long period of time (we’ve all witnessed how “quickly” the wheels of government bureaucracy can move). Why integrate now – when, even though the other provinces are in various stages of formulating a merger, none (except QC) has been legislated? Why hand over all assets of the Association (including a sizable cash reserve resulting from practice insurance premiums) to a body that there are still no guarantees that all affiliates will end up being affiliated with? Why not wait until enabling legislations’ have been put into place before integrating assets? This was actually the position of CGA Canada a year ago? What changed? And this ignores the fact that (see next point)
(2) The largest CGA affiliate (Ontario) plus Manitoba (combined representing more than 50% of CGA Canada members – and with apologies to our colleagues in Quebec – they aren’t CGA Canada members now and haven’t been for some time) is NOT involved in merger discussions at this time. Your largest affiliate and more than 50% of your members are not involved in merger discussions (forget the fact that enabling legislation is not in place elsewhere) and you want to hand over control of your assets to another body (which you don’t control) and trust that they will continue to act in the best interests of your members?
(3) The body that you’re handing your assets over to - CPA Canada - was incorporated; its bylaws approved; it’s governance structure put in place; it’s raison d’être agreed to WITHOUT meaningful input from CGA Canada. With the exception of whatever participation came from legacy CGA Quebec members; some initial input into the CPA education program and input from CGA Alberta; there was no real input by CGA’s into CPA Canada. And you expect to suddenly be able to influence the directions/actions of this body? From my own personal observations, unfortunately I do not expect this to go well – people you deal with in negotiations need to at a minimum respect you and from what I witnessed, our national leaders were not afforded the type of respect I would expect from those they will be dealing with to make me feel secure that whatever they might bring forward would be given due consideration. Don’t forget everyone, we (i.e. all CGA bodies – except Quebec) had to basically force our way into discussions ongoing between CA’s and CMA’s. They didn’t need/want us there initially. Why is that? How truly motivated will they be to act in our interests?
(4) CGA Canada claims that this “is a well thought out strategy that involved unprecedented collaboration from accounting bodies across the country.” Please show me how, excluding provincial discussions, there was unprecedented collaboration at the national level? I certainly didn’t see it during my time at the table.
(5) This national body, that you are entrusting to act in the best interests of your members – who may, OR MAY NOT, have actually merged; will have control over all intellectual property owned by CGA Canada. Why merge now? What’s the rush?
(6) CGA’s are currently represent by only one CGA on the CPA Canada Board – two if you count the fact that of the three board members from Quebec, one is supposed to be a legacy CGA – on a Board of 16 members;
(7) CGA’s will gain only ONE additional seat as a result of this integration proposal
(8) CA’s are, by bylaw, required to have no LESS than 50% of the Board seats;
(9) Just one month ago, our national leaders were attempting to pass a bylaw that would have PREVENTED you as a member from even taking part in this vote. Why? Their claim of that being in the name of “good governance” in my opinion is laughable.
(10) There have been NO public consultations with members; forums; town halls with members across the country with respect to selling us on the benefits of approving this integration. Have you seen the CGA Canada CEO, Chair of the Board or any other representative stepping out in front of the general membership to discuss this? Using Twitter, LinkedIn and a couple of e-mails is not sufficient. Not even a webinar?
(11) The last e-mail that came from CGA Canada attempts to paint them as bringing this to the members to vote, as opposed to CGA Ontario NOT bringing anything to the members to vote on. Spin at its best. As the leaders of CGA Canada are WELL aware, the ICAO had absolutely no real interest in discussing/negotiating what were and still are reasonable solutions to get around member concerns over a lack of trust of the Institute and a lack of respect of our members. Ensuring that our members would be treated equally with a merged body was/is a paramount concern for CGA Ontario. Our members asked for that, the ICAO was not prepared to give that. The deal the CMA’s got was a result of essentially throwing up their hands and saying, please take us. Is that displaying leadership? Is that acting in the best interests of your members? Perhaps in their case it was given their situation. For CGA Ontario members, the Board (in my opinion) rightfully decided it wasn’t. But for CGA Canada to, in my opinion, attempt to spin this as a positive in their favour is disgraceful.
What is the rush CGA Canada? Why suddenly now is it imperative that you integrate with CPA Canada? Will your ability to influence really change if you wait?
Earlier posters have asked for a fair/balanced weighing of the pro’s and con’s about integrating CGA Canada now. I won’t be the one to provide that as I don’t believe there are any pro’s/benefits to me as a member or to you as a member in having CGA Canada integrate. Your mobility is NOT impacted. Your ability to get a CPA should you desire is NOT impacted. Why integrate now?
I’m going to stop my list there, but if anyone cares or is interested in discussing this further, I will be at the practitioner’s conference tomorrow (Friday) and would be more than happy to talk more there.
Blake Mercer, FCGA, C.Dir
Licensed Public Accountant
Mercer & Mercer, Certified General Accountants
Licensed Public Accountants
905-876-1144
blake@mercerandmercer.com
mail@mercerandmercer.com更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Add to contacts
11:02 PM
I sat as a director of CGA Ontario for seven years; was Chair of the Board of Directors for CGA Ontario from June 2011 to June 2012 and left the Board this past June. During my term on the Board and specifically during my term as vice-Chair and Chair of the Board, I was one of the people most closely tied to discussions – certainly at the Ontario level; and to a lesser degree at the National level. I participated in many, many meetings with our affiliates; our National body; representatives of the ICAO, CMAO, the CICA and CMAC. I directly participated in two or three dozen town hall/member forum meetings with members across Ontario.
Based on my direct participation in discussions/negotiations in Ontario and nationally; and my direct involvement in the leadership of CGA Ontario I believe I have a fairly informed opinion about what has transpired over the last three years.
I have sent my proxy vote to CGA Ontario to vote AGAINST the CGA Canada integration.
Being for or against a merger here in Ontario is irrelevant to the question that CGA Canada has posed to its members. One is completely independent of the other (see CGA Quebec and CPA Quebec as an example of this) and a decision to merge at a national level will not compel a merger at the provincial level. To me, the salient points to consider when deciding how to cast your vote are (sorry it’s a bit long, but there are lots of points to consider):
(1) Except for in Quebec, no other provincial jurisdiction has passed legislation legally bringing into force CPA. Some provinces might not have legislation for a long period of time (we’ve all witnessed how “quickly” the wheels of government bureaucracy can move). Why integrate now – when, even though the other provinces are in various stages of formulating a merger, none (except QC) has been legislated? Why hand over all assets of the Association (including a sizable cash reserve resulting from practice insurance premiums) to a body that there are still no guarantees that all affiliates will end up being affiliated with? Why not wait until enabling legislations’ have been put into place before integrating assets? This was actually the position of CGA Canada a year ago? What changed? And this ignores the fact that (see next point)
(2) The largest CGA affiliate (Ontario) plus Manitoba (combined representing more than 50% of CGA Canada members – and with apologies to our colleagues in Quebec – they aren’t CGA Canada members now and haven’t been for some time) is NOT involved in merger discussions at this time. Your largest affiliate and more than 50% of your members are not involved in merger discussions (forget the fact that enabling legislation is not in place elsewhere) and you want to hand over control of your assets to another body (which you don’t control) and trust that they will continue to act in the best interests of your members?
(3) The body that you’re handing your assets over to - CPA Canada - was incorporated; its bylaws approved; it’s governance structure put in place; it’s raison d’être agreed to WITHOUT meaningful input from CGA Canada. With the exception of whatever participation came from legacy CGA Quebec members; some initial input into the CPA education program and input from CGA Alberta; there was no real input by CGA’s into CPA Canada. And you expect to suddenly be able to influence the directions/actions of this body? From my own personal observations, unfortunately I do not expect this to go well – people you deal with in negotiations need to at a minimum respect you and from what I witnessed, our national leaders were not afforded the type of respect I would expect from those they will be dealing with to make me feel secure that whatever they might bring forward would be given due consideration. Don’t forget everyone, we (i.e. all CGA bodies – except Quebec) had to basically force our way into discussions ongoing between CA’s and CMA’s. They didn’t need/want us there initially. Why is that? How truly motivated will they be to act in our interests?
(4) CGA Canada claims that this “is a well thought out strategy that involved unprecedented collaboration from accounting bodies across the country.” Please show me how, excluding provincial discussions, there was unprecedented collaboration at the national level? I certainly didn’t see it during my time at the table.
(5) This national body, that you are entrusting to act in the best interests of your members – who may, OR MAY NOT, have actually merged; will have control over all intellectual property owned by CGA Canada. Why merge now? What’s the rush?
(6) CGA’s are currently represent by only one CGA on the CPA Canada Board – two if you count the fact that of the three board members from Quebec, one is supposed to be a legacy CGA – on a Board of 16 members;
(7) CGA’s will gain only ONE additional seat as a result of this integration proposal
(8) CA’s are, by bylaw, required to have no LESS than 50% of the Board seats;
(9) Just one month ago, our national leaders were attempting to pass a bylaw that would have PREVENTED you as a member from even taking part in this vote. Why? Their claim of that being in the name of “good governance” in my opinion is laughable.
(10) There have been NO public consultations with members; forums; town halls with members across the country with respect to selling us on the benefits of approving this integration. Have you seen the CGA Canada CEO, Chair of the Board or any other representative stepping out in front of the general membership to discuss this? Using Twitter, LinkedIn and a couple of e-mails is not sufficient. Not even a webinar?
(11) The last e-mail that came from CGA Canada attempts to paint them as bringing this to the members to vote, as opposed to CGA Ontario NOT bringing anything to the members to vote on. Spin at its best. As the leaders of CGA Canada are WELL aware, the ICAO had absolutely no real interest in discussing/negotiating what were and still are reasonable solutions to get around member concerns over a lack of trust of the Institute and a lack of respect of our members. Ensuring that our members would be treated equally with a merged body was/is a paramount concern for CGA Ontario. Our members asked for that, the ICAO was not prepared to give that. The deal the CMA’s got was a result of essentially throwing up their hands and saying, please take us. Is that displaying leadership? Is that acting in the best interests of your members? Perhaps in their case it was given their situation. For CGA Ontario members, the Board (in my opinion) rightfully decided it wasn’t. But for CGA Canada to, in my opinion, attempt to spin this as a positive in their favour is disgraceful.
What is the rush CGA Canada? Why suddenly now is it imperative that you integrate with CPA Canada? Will your ability to influence really change if you wait?
Earlier posters have asked for a fair/balanced weighing of the pro’s and con’s about integrating CGA Canada now. I won’t be the one to provide that as I don’t believe there are any pro’s/benefits to me as a member or to you as a member in having CGA Canada integrate. Your mobility is NOT impacted. Your ability to get a CPA should you desire is NOT impacted. Why integrate now?
I’m going to stop my list there, but if anyone cares or is interested in discussing this further, I will be at the practitioner’s conference tomorrow (Friday) and would be more than happy to talk more there.
Blake Mercer, FCGA, C.Dir
Licensed Public Accountant
Mercer & Mercer, Certified General Accountants
Licensed Public Accountants
905-876-1144
blake@mercerandmercer.com
mail@mercerandmercer.com更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net