CA Institute lauds Premier’s online information resource for newcomers

CAs set the standard for access by internationally trained professionals

Toronto (March 7, 2006) - The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario today commended the McGuinty government's announcement of www.ONTARIOIMMIGRATION.ca -- a new Web-based government information resource for internationally-trained professionals and other newcomers to Canada.

"We support initiatives like these that help internationally-trained professionals apply their skills in Ontario," said Institute President and CEO Brian Hunt, FCA. "Our province depends on developing a workforce that reflects the world in which we do business. That's why we have partnered with the Ontario government on a range of complementary initiatives, including working with settlement.org in developing an electronic version of the Institute's CA Career Map."

In fact, for more than two decades, Hunt noted, the CA profession has been acknowledged by the Ontario government as leading the way in ensuring that access. Former Citizenship Minister Bob Wong said in 1989:

"It is very encouraging to see a group such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario taking the vital step towards improving fair access to the profession of accounting. I am very interested to see if your example will be followed by the other self-governing occupations."

In December 2003, the then Honourable Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Mary Ann Chambers, MPP, wrote:

"The Ministry recognizes the role the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario has played to improve access for internationally trained accountants, including working with the Ministry on an occupational fact sheet, the Sector-specific Terminology Information and Counseling Project, and the CD-based Competency Matching Tool. As well, senior staff from your organization play a leadership role on the Ontario Regulators for Access Steering Committee."

Other highlights of the Institute's record include:

Participation in the International Qualifications Appraisal Board (IQAB), which assesses the qualification standards of accounting bodies in other countries against Canadian CA standards to provide access to qualified applicants
A transparent registration and appeals processes that includes full participation by public representatives (persons who are not accountants) as voting members
Working with accounting bodies in other countries - including many in Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim - to help them achieve standards equal to those in Canada.

"The Institute is already seen by the Ontario government as doing a solid job of providing access to foreign trained professionals," said Hunt. However, neither employers nor the self-regulated professions can do it all themselves, Hunt added, noting factors that are beyond their reach, including better coordination of immigrant services and programs between Ottawa and the provinces, and enhanced university access.

"We all want new Canadians to succeed," Hunt concluded. "Let's build on our progress with a realistic system of standardized best practices that identifies achievable goals."

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About the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario:
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario is the qualifying and regulatory body of Ontario's 31,000 CAs and 3,500 CA students. Since 1879, the Institute has protected the public interest through the CA profession's high standards of qualification and the enforcement of its rules of professional conduct. The Institute Web site is: www.icao.on.ca and details on the Occupational Career Path for internationally trained accountants is on-line at: http://www.icao.on.ca/Admissions/OccupationalFactSheet/page1361.aspx

For more information please contact:
Perry Jensen
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario
416-969-4271
1-800-387-0735 ext. 271
pjensen@icao.on.ca