How CPAs in Ontario and Quebec can stay part of the national body
Everything you need to know about CPA Canada’s new offering for CPAs in Quebec and Ontario to be part of the national accounting body.
Thank you for your overwhelming interest in being part of the national body.
We request your patience as our systems work to ensure your signup experience is as seamless as possible. If you have any questions, refer to our FAQs.
Updated November 5, 2024
JOINING CPA CANADA
Q: How much will CPAs in Ontario and Quebec pay to be part of CPA Canada?
Q: What happens if I don’t join before the date of withdrawals?
Q: Why am I being asked to sign up now?
Q: How was the price of $195 per year decided?
Q: Are any cost increases anticipated for the CPAs in regions that remain part of CPA Canada?
Q: Do I need to be part of CPA Canada to maintain my CPA designation?
Q: Can I choose to be a part of CPA Canada only and not a member of my regulatory body?
Q: Will CPAs in Ontario and Quebec who join CPA Canada be members under the new model?
BENEFITS OF JOINING CPA CANADA
Q: If I sign up to be a part of CPA Canada, what do I get access to?
Q: Will I continue to have access to the CPA Handbook?
Q: Is there a benefit in being part of both CPA Canada and a provincial body?
GOVERNANCE & WITHDRAWALS
Q: What does the finalized agreement on education and standards include?
FUTURE OF THE PROFESSION
Q: How will CPA Canada ensure continued support of CPAs and the profession?
Q: Will CPA Canada continue its efforts to increase the international recognition of Canadian CPAs?
Q: HOW CAN I CONTINUE TO BE PART OF CPA CANADA AFTER DEC. 20, 2024, IF I’M A CPA IN ONTARIO OR QUEBEC?
CPAs in Ontario and Quebec in good standing with their provincial regulators can sign up to be part of CPA Canada despite the withdrawal of regulators in those provinces from the national accounting body on Dec. 20, 2024.
If you sign up and pay your annual fee ahead of Dec. 20, 2024, you will receive 15 months for the price of 12 (starting Dec. 20, 2024) meaning that no other payment would be due until March 2026.
Q: HOW DO I SIGN UP?
It’s easy! Go to: https://www.cpacanada.ca/my-cpa-canada/express-checkout
You can choose to join and pay now or sign up to be reminded later.
You can also learn more here: https://www.cpacanada.ca/en/my-cpa-canada/join
Q: HOW MUCH WILL CPAS IN ONTARIO AND QUEBEC PAY TO BE PART OF CPA CANADA?
CPAs in Ontario and Quebec can be part of CPA Canada for an annual fee of $195, plus applicable taxes. We are offering an introductory special of 15 months for the price of 12, or $3 a week, for those who sign up ahead of Dec. 20, 2024.
The $195 fee was decided after incorporating many factors, including public declarations from the withdrawing regulators in Ontario and Quebec that they will continue to support important shared priorities of the profession, including education and standards.
CPA Canada has given careful consideration to ensuring the price charged to CPAs in Quebec and Ontario is aligned to the $400 annual fee that the other regional bodies collect from their members and remit to CPA Canada. Currently, all Canadian CPAs fund standards and education through CPA Canada fees collected by the regulators and remitted to CPA Canada.
The maintenance of equity between the amount paid by CPAs in non-withdrawing regions and that paid by CPAs in Ontario and Quebec was a top priority during our deliberations.
For CPAs in non-withdrawing regions, CPA Canada’s annual due will continue to be invoiced by the regional bodies along with the member fee associated with that paid to provincial, territorial and Bermudian bodies. No extra charges will apply.
Q: WHO CAN JOIN?
Eligibility is limited to CPAs in good standing in Ontario and Quebec who have signed up through the CPA Canada e-commerce store.
Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T JOIN BEFORE THE DATE OF WITHDRAWALS?
CPAs in Quebec and Ontario can join at any time. As an added benefit, those who pay their annual fee before Dec. 20, 2024, will have access to CPA Canada’s exclusive programs, products and services for an additional three months until March 31, 2026.
Q: WHY AM I BEING ASKED TO SIGN UP NOW?
CPAs in Ontario and Quebec have overwhelmingly said they want to be part of a national body, so we know the Dec. 20 withdrawal of those regulators is unsettling for CPAs in those provinces.
CPA Canada wants to make the transition as smooth and simple as possible so that CPAs in Ontario and Quebec can continue to remain engaged with CPA Canada. By signing up before Dec. 20, CPAs can benefit from an introductory promotion of 15 months for the price of 12, covering the period from Dec. 20, 2024, through March 31, 2026.
Q: HOW WAS THE PRICE OF $195 PER YEAR DECIDED?
The $195 fee was decided after incorporating many factors, including public declarations from the withdrawing regulators in Ontario and Quebec that they will continue to support important shared priorities of the profession, including education and standards.
CPA Canada has given careful consideration to ensuring the price charged to CPAs in Quebec and Ontario is aligned to the $400 annual fee that the other regulatory bodies collect from their members and remit to CPA Canada.
Currently, all Canadian CPAs fund standards and education through their CPA Canada fees, which are collected by the regulators and remitted to CPA Canada.
The maintenance of equity between the amount paid by CPAs in non-withdrawing provinces and that paid by CPAs in Ontario and Quebec was a top priority during our deliberations.
Q: ARE ANY COST INCREASES ANTICIPATED FOR THE CPAS THAT REMAIN PART OF CPA CANADA?
No. CPA Canada’s dues are $400 per CPA and have been since 2018. We do not intend to raise fees at this time.
Q: AS A RETIREE/LIFETIME MEMBER I DIDN’T HAVE TO PAY ANY FEES TO ONTARIO/QUEBEC, WHY AM I BEING ASKED TO NOW?
CPA Canada recognizes the contributions of dedicated senior members of our profession and is offering CPAs aged 65 and over a discounted annual fee of $95. The amount incorporates many factors, including changes to our business model and public commitments by the regulators in Ontario and Quebec to funding education and standard-setting—important shared national priorities.
The decision to waive the fee for these individuals was taken by provincial regulators. CPA Canada is not a regulator. The national body is a non-profit that uses funds to create resources, including research, guidance, courses and other exclusive content to support CPAs and the national and international reputation of the profession.
Due to the decision made by regulators in Quebec and Ontario to withdrawal from the Collaboration Accord on Dec. 20, 2024, we are no longer able to offer the same exemptions or fee reductions offered by those provincial regulators. We hope to be in a position to re-evaluate our options in the future.
Q: DO I NEED TO BE PART OF CPA CANADA TO MAINTAIN MY CPA DESIGNATION?
There is no regulatory requirement for a CPA in Ontario or Quebec to be part of CPA Canada. You can choose to continue to be part of the national body and maintain access to CPA Canada’s many benefits and offerings.
There is a clear distinction between our role as the national body and that of the provincial regulators. What’s important to note is we are not a regulator—CPA Canada focuses on your career, giving you a voice on the national and global stages in the way only a national body can.
Q: CAN I CHOOSE TO BE A PART OF CPA CANADA ONLY AND NOT A MEMBER OF MY REGULATORY BODY?
CPAs must be members of their regulatory bodies to maintain their designation. It’s not a choice between your regulator and CPA Canada; it’s a matter of both.
There is a clear distinction between our role as the national body and that of the regulatory bodies. What’s important to note is we are not a regulator.
CPA Canada is focused on advancing CPAs in their careers as well as the reputation of the profession—activities that uphold and uplift the global credibility of the profession in the way only a national body can.
For CPAs in non-withdrawing regions, CPA Canada’s annual due is invoiced by the regulators along with the member fee associated with that paid to provincial, territorial and Bermudian bodies. No extra charges will apply.
Q: WILL CPAs IN ONTARIO AND QUEBEC WHO JOIN CPA CANADA BE MEMBERS UNDER THE NEW MODEL?
As a result of the decision made by the Ontario and Quebec regulators to leave CPA Canada, CPAs in these provinces will lose their membership in CPA Canada on December 20, 2024.
We’ve been very clear that our current bylaws outline the rules on membership of the national body—that individual CPAs are only members of CPA Canada through their provincial bodies.
It’s something we've been concerned about since we first learned of the decision by provincial regulators in Ontario and Quebec to withdraw from the national body without first informing and consulting with their members.
The decision of two regulators should not be allowed to impact thousands of CPAs in those provinces.
Through extensive consultations, we heard overwhelmingly from CPAs in Ontario and Quebec that staying connected to a strong national body is important. Fully nine out of ten CPAs in those provinces expressed their desire to remain part of a unified national profession and the same proportion said they believe they should be consulted.
To address this before the withdrawal date of Dec. 20, CPA Canada has pivoted to be able to offer an interim solution while CPA Canada explores the development of a new governance model going forward. CPA Canada is offering CPAs in Ontario and Quebec a subscription that allows those individuals to continue accessing the most valuable benefits that they previously enjoyed as members of CPA Canada, including resources, expertise, and the national and international representation that CPA Canada offers.
This offer will ensure that CPAs can still benefit from being part of a cohesive national body—one that regularly seeks feedback and counsel from this group of trusted business leaders.
CPAs are the heart of this organization and we are dedicated to meaningfully engage with and listen to you before making any major long-term decisions about our governance model.
Once the withdrawal process is complete, we will be in a better position to explore future governance and membership models. CPA Canada will focus on reshaping the structure of the national body to build for the future—including further engagement with CPAs across the country.
As always, we are dedicated to transparency and two-way communication. Stay tuned for developments on this front. We promise to inform you as soon as possible.
Q: IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THE ACCESS OPTION OFFERED IN ONTARIO AND QUEBEC COULD BE EXPANDED TO OTHER PROVINCES, TERRITORIES AND BERMUDA?
Our immediate priority is to ensure that CPAs in Ontario and Quebec can continue to be part of the national body alongside their colleagues in non-withdrawing provinces, territories and Bermuda. Those regional bodies remain a part of the Collaboration Accord, the national agreement with CPA Canada and Canada’s regulatory accounting bodies.
After Dec. 20, 2024, all CPAs who are members of the non-withdrawing regulators will continue to be members of CPA Canada.
We are exploring all options to continue to evolve our organizational model alongside our profession.
Q: IF I SIGN UP TO BE A PART OF CPA CANADA, WHAT DO I GET ACCESS TO?
CPA Canada is focused on supporting Canadian CPAs and strengthening the profession nationally and internationally. Being part of CPA Canada grants you:
- National and global representation, leadership and influence
- Exclusive guidance, tools and templates
- Over 200 publications offering trusted expertise on pertinent topics including:
- Financial Reporting
- Audit and Assurance
- Data, tech and AI
- Tax
- Ethics and Governance
- Sustainability
- Global accounting issues
- Economic Issues
- All-access subscription to Pivot magazine, awarded Best Brand at the 2024 National Magazine Awards, including home delivery of the quarterly print edition, monthly digital newsletter, digital magazine edition and online news archives.
- Monthly town halls with President and CEO Pamela Steer on important trends and emerging issues in accounting.
- Volunteer opportunities including participation in our committees, award-winning Financial Literacy program or Indigenous Mentorship program.
- Discounts on our products, services conferences and certificates.
- Exclusive savings through the CPA Canada affinity program. We partner with leading national brands to offer exclusive promotions and discounts on a range of personal and professional services.
Q: WILL I CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE CPA HANDBOOK?
We know how important access to the CPA Canada Handbook is for all Canadian CPAs as a foundational document for the profession. The Handbook—and the standards guidance offered within—underpins reporting and assurance standards for the business, not-for-profit and public sectors.
In early October, a binding term sheet agreement was reached with the two withdrawing regulators to ensure they will continue to fund our stewardship of Canada’s standard-setting process and uninterrupted access to the CPA Canada Handbook through Knotia for CPAs in those provinces.
CPA Canada owns the intellectual property associated with the Handbook, which includes both standards themselves, as well as crucial implementation guidance.
Q: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO CPAS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO OPT IN TO CPA CANADA—WILL THEY LOSE ACCESS TO CERTAIN RESOURCES, AND IF SO, WHICH ONES?
Anyone who is not a part of CPA Canada will pay standard and individual prices to access resources included as part of the annual fee, as well as for additional products, services and conferences that those who are part of the national body can purchase at preferred pricing.
Q: FOR CPAs IN QUEBEC AND ONTARIO WHO ARE DEBATING WHETHER TO JOIN THE NATIONAL BODY, WHAT ARE THE SELLING POINTS ON WHAT CPA CANADA OFFERS THAT THE PROVINCIAL BODIES DO NOT?
CPA Canada is not asking anyone to choose between allegiance to your provincial regulator and to the national body. We all provide excellent, unique and complementary value to Canadian CPAs.
CPA Canada’s job is to support you with career-building resources and professional development opportunities, advance your interests through national and international representation, and promote the profession to future-proof the value of the designation for the next generation of CPAs.
In a survey conducted earlier this year, nine in ten CPAs in Ontario and Quebec said they value a strong national body, and the same proportion said they want to be consulted. Unlike the provincial regulators who took the decision to withdraw unilaterally—we consulted extensively with members throughout the past year before arriving at this offering.
At the national level, we represent the interests of the profession in discussions with policymakers on important issues—from our ongoing dialogue with the government and the Canada Revenue Agency on capital gains and bare trusts reforms to our auditing work with Elections Canada. On the international stage, our global partners have signalled they want to continue to collaborate at a nation-to-nation level. Our presence at national and international levels is what makes our resources robust, unique and valuable—resources we create with a focus on making bilingualism a priority—so that CPAs across the country have the right tools to succeed.
Our commitment to bilingualism extends beyond provincial and national borders. We are proud to announce we have received our francization certification from the Office québécois de la langue française. Not only are our resources, programs, news stories, correspondences and social media delivered in both languages, we also translated important international standards from the IFRS and now ISSB for CPAs in Francophone countries around the world.
Q: MANY CPAs HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR THE NEW OFFERING TO MAINTAIN ACCESS TO IMPORTANT INFORMATION. WHAT EXACTLY MIGHT THIS LOOK LIKE AFTER DEC. 20 FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT JOIN THE NATIONAL BODY?
As a non-profit organization, CPA Canada uses funds to create resources, including research, guidance, courses and other exclusive content to support CPAs and the national and international reputation of the profession. On Dec. 20, CPA Canada content will only be available to those contributing to the cost of maintaining it.
That means CPAs in Ontario and Quebec who are part of the national body can log in to access exclusive resources including: CPA-centric federal policy and financial literacy breakdowns, timely and technical updates on everything from tax to sustainability standards, research papers on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to carbon credits and whistleblower protection and online news and analysis on accounting trends and a quarterly print edition of our award-winning Pivot magazine.
Those who are part of the national body will also get special preferred pricing on in-depth professional development courses, The ONE National Conference, specialized certificates, and tools on critical national subjects like taxation and standards—resources unique to the national body.
Those who join also get access to meaningful national professional volunteer opportunities, allowing members to engage in roles that extend beyond their provincial scope and to make an impact within the profession. CPA Canada also secures exclusive offers and discounts from major national partners and personal and professional services through our affinity program.
Q: IS THERE A BENEFIT TO BEING BOTH PART OF CPA CANADA AND A PROVINCIAL BODY?
The short answer is yes. We serve two very different functions.
There is a clear distinction between our role as the national body and that of the provincial regulators. What’s important to note is we are not a regulator. The regulators, such as CPA Quebec, have a mandate to protect the public. Membership in those bodies is mandatory to maintain your designation.
We understand and support the role of the provincial regulators. We also know how important it is to have a national body that focused on securing success for individual CPAs and the profession as a whole.
In a globalized economy, there is strength in numbers. CPA Canada will continue to be an active partner across provincial boundaries, giving you a voice on the national and global stage.
Q: HOW ARE THE DISCUSSIONS GOING WITH CPA ONTARIO AND THE ORDRE DES CPA DU QUÉBEC IN RELATION TO THE WITHDRAWALS?
The provincial regulators in Ontario and Quebec have decided to withdraw from CPA Canada’s founding Collaboration Accord, effective Dec. 20.
As a result, CPA Canada is offering CPAs in Ontario and Quebec a choice to stay part of the national body, while we also negotiate new ways to work together with the provincial regulators in those provinces.
All three bodies have been focused on advancing agreements in areas of importance to the national profession where we want to continue to work together, particularly around education and standard setting.
In early October 2024, a binding term sheet agreement was reached with the two withdrawing regulators to ensure they will continue to fund our stewardship of Canada’s standard-setting process and uninterrupted access to the CPA Canada Handbook for CPAs in those provinces.
This agreement recognizes the foundational work CPA Canada does to support the profession.
CPA Canada reached a final agreement on education in November, to ensure the continuation of the current national path for students in Ontario and Quebec after a binding term sheet was agreed upon last November.
CPA Canada is committed to continuing to work with the withdrawing provincial regulators to achieve similar agreements on other outstanding issues important to the national profession.
We will continue to collaborate and work with all 13 provincial, territorial, and Bermudian bodies on matters that are in the best interest of the profession and all Canadian CPAs.
Q: HOW DOES CPA CANADA SEE THE ROLE OF PROVINCIAL REGULATORS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL BODY, CONSIDERING THIS CHANGE?
CPA Canada intends to work with all 13 provincial, territorial and Bermudian bodies going forward in the best interest of Canadian CPAs and the profession. We will also continue to represent and advocate for Canadian CPAs nationally and internationally.
We may work with regulators in Ontario and Quebec in a different way, including how we provide access to proprietary information that supports the profession. However, we will always be committed to working collaboratively to serve the best interests of the profession and all CPAs.
Q: IS THERE ANY HOPE THAT THE DISPUTE BETWEEN CPA CANADA AND THE ONTARIO AND QUEBEC ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE RESOLVED SO THAT THE PROFESSION WILL REMAIN UNIFIED?
There is always a path back and there will always be opportunities to work together. The intent is for CPA Canada to continue working with all 13 provincial, territorial and Bermudian bodies going forward, though it will be working together in a different way that will unfold as we begin to work with this new dynamic.
Q: WILL ONTARIO AND QUEBEC LOSE REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD AND OTHER COMMITTEES DUE TO THE DEPARTURE OR WILL THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO REMAIN MEMBERS STILL HAVE SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES?
When Ontario and Quebec withdraw from the collaboration accord, our bylaws stipulate that only members of CPA Canada’s provincial, territorial, or Bermudian bodies can be voting members and eligible to serve on our board. Consequently, once Ontario and Quebec withdraw in December, they will lose the ability to appoint representatives to our board.
Q: HAS AN AGREEMENT ON EDUCATION AND STANDARD SETTING BEEN REACHED AMONG CPA CANADA, CPA ONTARIO AND THE ORDRE DES CPA DU QUÉBEC?
In early November, L’Ordre des CPA du Québec, CPA Ontario, and CPA Canada signed a binding term sheet on standard setting and finalized the details of an education agreement reached last fall.
Q: WHAT DOES THE FINALIZED AGREEMENT ON EDUCATION AND STANDARDS INCLUDE?
The finalized agreement on standards ensures continued funding for standard setting, and continued access for CPAs in Ontario and Quebec to the CPA Canada Handbook and Board Guidance, which are foundational to the profession and critical to protecting the public.
The finalized education agreement ensures continuity of the educational pathway for current CPA students in Ontario and Quebec, consistent with the organizations’ binding agreement reached in November 2023.
These agreements follow the notice from L’Ordre des CPA du Québec and CPA Ontario regarding their withdrawal from the Collaboration Accord, effective December 2024.
Q: HOW WILL CPA CANADA ENSURE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF CPAS AND THE PROFESSION?
CPA Canada’s work is committed to ensuring Canadian CPAs have access to unparalleled professional resources and remain part of a thriving, global community of accounting professionals, strengthening individual career opportunities, as well as the influence and impact of the Canadian profession.
We heard clearly, through extensive quantitative and qualitative research and consultation, that the activities CPAs consider most essential from a national accounting body are also those we proudly provide. Those include maintaining the value of the CPA designation nationally and internationally, uniform standards and education and access to accounting resources. We are committed to continuously evolving our offerings and benefits and will regularly conduct research and consultations to measure satisfaction with the aim of continuous improvement.
Q: WILL CPA CANADA CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF CANADIAN CPAS?
We know that becoming a CPA isn’t just a career choice, it’s a passport to a global profession.
CPA Canada’s international work is committed to ensuring Canadian CPAs enjoy global mobility, recognition, and credibility as well as access to unparalleled professional resources and opportunities as part of a thriving international community of accounting professionals.
CPA Canada is the Canadian representative on international committees, including the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the International Federation of Francophone Accountants (FIDEF).
We have negotiated international reciprocity agreements with 12 peer bodies, including the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) and American Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants (AICPA).
International professional accountancy organizations collaborate on a nation-to-nation basis and we have heard feedback from global peers that they value their partnership with CPA Canada on matters concerning Canadian CPAs.
Q: HOW WILL CPA CANADA WORK WITH THE PROVINCIAL, TERRITORIAL AND BERMUDIAN BODIES TO ENSURE THAT THE CANADIAN PROFESSION HAS A CLEAR, UNIFIED VOICE BOTH WITHIN CANADA AND ON THE GLOBAL STAGE?
As the representative at international boards and committees, including the GAA and IFA, CPA Canada will continue to consult across the country to ensure we’re bringing the most forward-thinking and comprehensive picture of Canada to the world. As we continue to gather and synthesize information to report to those international bodies, CPA Canada will ensure the process includes all the provinces, territories and Bermuda from across industries.
Q: WHAT DOES CPA CANADA INTEND TO DO TO ENSURE AN EQUITABLE PROPORTION OF FRENCH IN ALL ITS COMMUNICATIONS AND ON ALL ITS PLATFORMS?
CPA Canada offers a wide range of resources, publications and professional development activities both in English and French, including a French version of Pivot, CPA Canada’s award-winning magazine.
In 2023, CPA Canada translated over 9,000 documents, representing 7.7 million words.
In addition to providing French language services to Canadian CPAs, CPA Canada provides the official French translation of International Accounting standards, including the IFRS standards. We also demonstrate our commitment to being a world leader for French-speaking CPAs through our membership in the FIDEF organization, the International Federation of French speaking accountants and auditors.