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: [email protected]
9208 – 137 Avenue or: [email protected]
DEADMONTON, Alberta
CANADA T5E 1Y5 phone: 403-475-5555
INTERNATIONAL LINKS PROMOTE TRADE AND PEACE
From [email protected] Fri Apr 19 08:22:17 PDT 1996
Article: 43611 of bc.general
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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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