From acumen@compusmart.ab.ca Fri Apr 19 08:22:17 PDT 1996
Article: 43611 of bc.general
Path: nizkor.almanac.bc.ca!news.island.net!news.bctel.net!imci2!imci4!newsfeed.internetmci.com!in2.uu.net!scanner.worldgate.com!rover.ucs.ualberta.ca!bert.compusmart.ab.ca!usenet
From: William Grosvenor 
Newsgroups: bc.general
Subject: WARNING-UNQUALIFIED CGA ACCOUNTANTS!!!
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 07:53:28 +0700
Organization: International Institute of Management Inc.
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CONCERN TO ACCOUNTING STUDENTS,ACCOUNTANTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC-
CGA'S IN CANADA - WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM?


Over the past year, national media have been filling the news with 
stories of scandals involving prominent CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANTS 
(CGA's) in Canada.

The Vancouver Sun and other national media recently carried banner 
headlines regarding Roman Evancic CGA and FCGA, who had got himself 
SHOT!!.This was apparently in connection with some business partner 
and a collections problem. The news reported that the assailant said,
as he shot Evancic:"I'm from your stock brokers. I understand you 
ripped him off."(per Vancouver Sun)

In Alberta last summer, the media had a field day, reporting on the 
fact that the Past President of CGA Alberta, a CGA and FCGA, was 
under investigation on a complaint by the HONGKONG BANK to the RCMP 
Commercial Crime Division. The HK Bank was complaining about 
William Mearns, who had been for 12 years the Controller/Treasurer 
of the County of Red Deer, Alberta.

At the end of 1995, without any advice to the general public or even 
to Members of CGA Alberta, Mearns was allowed to SECRETLY RESIGN both
his CGA and FCGA designations. This seems a first for Canada, where
an FCGA surrenders what was supposed to be a prestigious designation.

Mind you, Mearns got his FCGA for his work in 1987-1988, where he was
involved in admitting to CGA Alberta  unqualified bookkeepers,who were
given the CGA designation,with no requirement for qualifications,
education,experience,NO EXAMS,or even requiring upgrading courses to
bring them to an acceptable standard. CGA Alberta of course benefited
financially,from the huge increase in  fees from the new members.

And don't forget the scandal exposed on national TV of the Surrey,B.C. 
CGA, convicted of embezzling millions of dollars from fellow 
parishioners of his church.

Are these published reports, as well as others, part of the reason that
the Maritime Provinces CA's successfully maintain that CGA's there 
ARE NOT QUALIFIED to perform public audits? Could it have something to
do with the fact that an unqualified CGA from Alberta could move to the
Maritimes,and though unqualified, could still call himself a CGA there?

Students of accounting,in China,Hong Kong, S.E. Asia and the Caribbean,
who have to pay many thousands of dollars to obtain your designation, 
how do you feel about these "gwaliau" who got the CGA for free?

Students of accounting, public accountants, members of the public and 
financial institutions who are concerned about credibility in the 
accounting profession are invited to respond.


William Grosvenor               e-mail: acumen@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
9208 - 137 Avenue                     or: acumen@compusmart.ab.ca
DEADMONTON, Alberta
CANADA  T5E 1Y5                            phone: 403-475-5555

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