President's notes

This month's issue focuses on the BC Business Environment. As CAs, we play a major role in that environment. We are CEOs, CFOs, controllers, directors, officers, consultants, business owners, shareholders and taxpayers. Surveys show our profession to be at the top in terms of credibility reliability and being valued independent advisors to the business community. We are taking our abilities and our status public in a big way again this year with the second annual release of the BC Check-Up, which looks at living, working and investing in BC. This year the Check-Up compares BC with the other "have" provinces in Canada, Alberta and Ontario. As an independent evaluation of just how we are doing, the Check-Up has been a smashing success. Everywhere I have travelled in the province on the Executive Tour, I have had plenty of feedback that the Check- Up fills a big void. As a way to showcase our talents, the CheckUp is an excellent vehicle. We have been approached by other Provincial Institutes to see how the Check-Up can be used for their purposes. Other business associations have remarked how they would like to develop their own Check- Up type reporting.

This year, where we can, we are making presentations on the Check-bp' results to local business groups and Chambers of Commerce. The presentation at the Kelowna Chamber by Richard Rees was well received and certainly created discussion and dialogue on how we are doing.

Although it is easy to try to politicize the Check-Up, that is not our intent. We are determined to remain non-political as we strongly believe that is how our profession should be positioned.

CA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

CASB has generated a lot of interest from our members. The feedback has generally been very positive. There are still lots of questions about the particulars of the program and how students will find their way through the program in 2001. If you have any questions, check out the Web site at www.calearn.com or give us a call at the Institute.

WESTERN FIRST OFFICERS (WFO)

WFO started off as an informal gathering of the presidents of the western institutes that met once a year to compare notes on what was happening. How times have changed! Just one year ago this group, with the support of their respective Councils, committed themselves to creating a new education delivery system, in Western Canada. Just one year from that meeting in Winnipeg, CASE has become a reality. We have an education model, a Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer (John Brennan from the University of Saskatchewan), a VP of Learning (Dr. Don Carter from the BC School), a computerized delivery system and are well on our way to developing the detailed course content of the module system, designed to produce the "Vision CA." BC recently hosted the WFO conference in Vancouver, and I can report first hand about the sense of optimism and cooperation in the profession. We are all committed to enhancing value to our members and building on the size and prestige of our profession.

CIVIL PENALTIES - UPDATE

As you may be aware, the civil penalties clause has now received third and final reading. We have been told, however, that administratively there will be no action taken by CCRA until the consultation process regarding its implementation has been completed. Tim Duholke, CA, of Sheinin and Company, is BCs representative for the CICA group representing the profession. I believe there is universal disappointment and condemnation from our members that this legislation got through. As a profession we are alarmed by the implications for our members and the relationship that our members have with their clients and the CCRA. We will do all we can to try to bring some common sense into the consultation process. If you experience any threatening reactions or comments from CCRA in your business or practice, please contact me or Doug Wallis by e-mail or phone. Such actions are inappropriate and specifically not allowed, and we will take action immediately on your behalf.

UFE

This year 325 candidates sat the UFE, an increase from last year's 287 writers. All of us remember sitting that exam and my thoughts are with all the candidates this year. Best wishes and good luck to all of you. PA

BY CHUCK CHANDLER, FCA,

PRESIDENT, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF BC

Copyright Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia Nov 2000
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