PUBLIC NOTICE: CGPA Canada Exposes CPABC’s False Claims — Not a Regulator of All BC Accountants and Out of Step with CRA and Modern Global Accounting Standards!

It’s time to set the record straight: The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) is NOT the all-powerful regulatory authority it claims to be. In fact, its recent public notices reveal an embarrassing disconnect from reality and regulatory competence—especially when it comes to Canada’s most important tax authority, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

CRA Does NOT Recognize CPA Canada Standards — It Uses IFRS, Just Like CGPA Canada

Here’s the inconvenient truth CPABC doesn’t want you to know:

• CRA does not accept CPA Canada’s “proprietary standards” as a regulatory benchmark.

• Instead, CRA strictly requires compliance with the globally accepted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)—the exact same standards fully embraced and implemented by CGPA Canada.

• CGPA Canada’s members comply rigorously with IFRS, IAS, ISA, and IFAC standards, serving clients across 168 countries with internationally recognized credentials.

CRA T2 Filing Requirements Tell the Truth: CPA Canada Standards Not Recognized — CRA Relies on IFRS, Just Like CGPA Canada. No wonder CPABC is scrambling. The Canada Revenue Agency mandates IFRS compliance, not CPA Canada’s proprietary framework. CGPA Canada stands tall — internationally aligned, federally recognized, and fully compliant. The truth is in the tax code.

This reality utterly exposes CPABC and CPA Canada’s repeated claims as nothing more than protectionist propaganda, designed to monopolize accounting regulation in BC and stifle legitimate competition. Their narrative is self-serving, misleading, and disconnected from the regulatory environment that governs Canadian accountants in practice.

CPABC — A “Regulator” That Oversteps Its Statutory Limits and Lacks Credibility

CPABC loudly touts its “statutory mandate to protect the public interest.” Yet, a closer look at the Chartered Professional Accountants Act shows CPABC’s regulatory authority is strictly limited to its own members. CPABC does not and cannot legally regulate CGPA Canada or its members.

CPABC’s Falsehoods Are a Disservice to the Public and the Profession

By misleading the public and misrepresenting CGPA Canada’s status, CPABC is:

• Creating unnecessary confusion among businesses and professionals seeking qualified accounting expertise.

• Undermining fair market competition, innovation, and choice within the profession.

• Damaging its own credibility as a regulator by ignoring federal certification and global standards compliance.

CGPA Canada: The True Global Professional Standard in Canada

Unlike CPABC’s provincial monopoly ambitions, CGPA Canada operates with full federal recognition, certified by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and complies with the highest international accounting and auditing standards.

We stand for transparency, fairness, and professional excellence — the very principles CPABC claims to uphold but fails to deliver.

FINAL WORD

Let me state unequivocally that CGPA Canada does not recognize any jurisdiction or regulatory authority by CPABC over our organization, our members, or our operations. Unless CPABC can cite clear statutory authority granting it exclusive jurisdiction over all accountants or auditors in British Columbia or Canada, its position is without legal foundation.

1. CPABC’s Authority Is Statutorily Limited to Its Own Members Only

CPABC’s regulatory mandate is limited exclusively to its own registrants, as clearly established under the Chartered Professional Accountants Act, SBC 2010, c. 4:

• Section 3(2) restricts CPABC’s object to “regulate the practice of the profession and govern registrants.”

• Section 46 expressly preserves the right of non-members to practise accounting or auditing in British Columbia.

• Section 46(f) acknowledges the right of persons acting under other statutory authorities.

These provisions unambiguously confirm that CPABC’s authority extends only to its own members. It holds No provincial or federal legislation grants CPABC exclusive jurisdiction over CGPA Canada or its members.

If CPABC asserts otherwise, we respectfully request that your office provide:

• A federal statute conferring exclusive jurisdiction over all Canadian accountants or auditors to CPABC;

• A binding judicial decision affirming such exclusivity; or

• Legislative amendments expressly repealing or overriding sections 46 and 46(f) of the CPA Act.

To date, no such authority exists.

2. CGPA Canada Is Federally Certified and Provincially Recognized

CGPA Canada is registered with the Government of Canada as a Certified Educational Institution (File No. 7009/13666) and is recognized by the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training under the Private Training Act.

This federal and provincial certification affirms our legal status, professionalism, and equivalency to CPA Canada and its affiliates.

We are fully authorized to provide accredited postgraduate education and certify professionals in public practice.

3. CGPA Canada Adheres to Global Professional Standards

CGPA Canada’s certification programs comply fully with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), International Accounting Standards (IAS), International Standards on Auditing (ISA), and International Education Standard 8 (IES 8) issued by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

Our members serve clients in over 168 countries under these internationally recognized frameworks, beyond the provincial scope claimed by CPABC.

4. CRA Does Not Recognize CPA Canada Standards—Uses IFRS Like CGPA Canada

Contrary to CPABC’s misleading assertions, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) does not recognize CPA Canada’s standards as unique or superior.

CRA bases its accounting and auditing requirements on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) — exactly the same globally recognized standards fully adopted by CGPA Canada.

This exposes CPABC’s and CPA Canada’s misrepresentations as protectionist, self-serving, and disconnected from the actual regulatory environment.

5. CPABC’s Public Notices Contain False and Defamatory Statements

CPABC’s February 25, 2025, public notice and other communications contain incorrect, legally unsupportable claims about CGPA Canada’s authority.

CGPA Canada demands immediate retraction of these notices, a written acknowledgment that CPABC has no regulatory authority over CGPA Canada or its members, and a formal undertaking to cease all misleading statements.

Final Warning and Legal Action

CGPA Canada does not recognize CPABC’s jurisdiction over our organization, members, or operations.

Should CPABC continue to disseminate falsehoods, interfere with our members’ lawful business activities, or misrepresent our credentials, CGPA Canada will initiate legal proceedings, including but not limited to:

• Complaints to the Competition Bureau of Canada for anti-competitive conduct;

• Complaints under the BC Human Rights Code;

• Applications for injunctive relief and declaratory judgments in the BC Supreme Court and Federal Court;

• Civil claims for defamation, tortious interference, and economic damages.

CGPA Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold professional excellence, global standards, and the rights of its members to practice freely and lawfully.

For further information or inquiries, please contact:

CGPA Global Team