Are you a CGA in BC? in Canada?

I'm concerned about CGA's losses in the event of merger. And I don't know what we stand to gain.

Here's what I think we'll lose. Flexibility, cost control and our unique culture and national voice, and I'm sure others can add their concerns. I don't know what I stand to gain, other than maybe not being asked what the difference between a CA and a CGA is. To which I would answer, CULTURE.

Flexibility- I'm concerned that our flexibility in how education is made available will diminish. I'm concerned our flexibility to be mobile within our industry will diminish. One of the best things about being a CGA has always been the flexibility to obtain an education, and to get our practical experience in industry, not just in public practice, but then, we also had the ability to choose public practice later on. We don't know how that will continue or if it can be protected. There are things about this proposed merger that are being kept secret. As public practitioners we haven't been given any information about whether we'll have access to hiring students. I'm told the current CA office training model effectively discriminates against smaller firms.

Cost control - I'm concerned because I believe that CGA's have a better claims experience, and experience lower insurance premiums because of that. With a merger, how much will our cost of insurance go up because we're now associated with the big firms, with their big risk taking ability? How much will our dues be? How much will it cost to convert our websites, office stationery, advertising... who will be making those decisions? There won't be any competition to keep prices down.

Our culture and our national voice - If BC pulls out of CGA Canada, will CGA Canada continue to exist with only a few provincial associations? If we merge, that's the end of BC's financial support for a national CGA Association, and it's efforts in various research, education, lobbying on behalf of CGA's nationally, may be impacted in a very significant way. If you think that's nothing to be concerned about, take a look at how many CGA's there are in BC compared to the rest of Canada. That may change your mind.

It seems that as few as 8 people hold our CGA designation in their hands. I am concerned we don't appear to have a say in whether or not there's a merger. I don't think that's right.

If you're a CGA in BC, and someone who likes to have the choice to have your say, then email me, and I'll send you a form to complete and scan back to require a meeting to require there be a vote before a merger. A number of past CGA BC presidents are very concerned that this time there will be a merger, and it will be without any input from the membership.

And.. there's no reason we can't have an online meeting and electronic polling in this day and age. There's no reason to think that CGAs that aren't in the lower mainland couldn't participate in a streaming video meeting, or other technological wonders of the current age.