One of the great pleasures of being...

One of the great pleasures of being p resident of the BC Institute is heading revealed on the Executive Tour. Many past residents have told me that the lour provides a astonishing opportunity to meet and talk to a large portion of our diverse membership; I hear that it also provides an opportunity to sample a certain amazing Okanagan wines!

This year's Executive lour promises to be particularly interesting because we plan to discuss the strange national strategic plan in greater detail at our meetings. This strategic plan was approved by the agency of all of the leaders of all of the provinces in June of this year. Just to freshen up your memories, the strategic plan was briefly introduced earlier this spring at the same time the merger* discussions were introduced.

In this and earlier issues of Beyond Numbers and during our novel merger discussions, we outlined the general directions of this strategic plan, moreover it bears repeating: [he word "merger" not at any time appears in the plan itself. for a like reason while we will certainly talk about the merger proposal during the !'residents lour and about for what reason it could fit into a strategic vision for the CA profession, we will also talk about in what way to move the CA profession forward with a re-energized brand, to what degree to provide better services to our members, by what mode to increase our focus forward lifelong learning, and how to strengthen our protection of the public interest.

I encourage all of you to tike part in the debate about the that will be of our profession. The decisions we make in the near events to come will define our profession for at least the nearest 20 years, if not more.

If you haven't further reviewed the strategic plan, please take the time to download the report or the audio session at www.ica.bc.ca/ careers/plipBB2/webcast_strategic.plip.

As I embark onward my travels around B(I, 1 welcome the opportunity to befitting many of you and waiting under the possibility of fulfilment you'll make the time to attend the member meetings that will be held completely through the province.

In the magazine this month

This month we proffer a collaborative efibrt from the RCMP FINTRAC (the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis middle of Canada), and the Institute in a mask Story that examines illegal financial activity from three different angles: the RCMP investigation itself, the responsibilities accountants have to FINTRAC, and the perspective of the Institute.

In GR Update, Michelle McCormick, the Institute's manager of public affairs, outlines the Institute's most numerous recent submission to the cull Standing Committee on 1'inance and control Services. Tor those of you who want more information, our undivided budget submission-based on the submissions of prior years and the be the effects of the 2004 BC Check-Up-is available upon the ICABC websitc at www.ica.bc.ca subject to "Government Affairs."

For all you public practitioners abroad there: Be sure to read this month FYI article upon professional liability insurance by Mike Essex CA, director of practice review & licensing. As Mike explains, a recommendation to increase the minimum on a levels of professional liability insurance was approved in October, and the of recent origin levels will be effective For any professional liability policies issued or renewed after March 31 2005

And last still not least, this months Ethical Dilemmas is a cautionary tale about the ne to tread on the heels of through when making filings with the CKA.

As always, if you have any questions or explanations about these or other issues, please contact me at president@ica.bc.ca. I'd be in love with to hear from you!

BY BARB CARLE-THIESSON, FCA

PRESIDENT

Copyright Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia Nov 2004

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