MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS AGREE TO LABOUR MOBILITY

VICTORIA – The Society of Management Accountants of British Columbia (CMABC) and the Society of Management Accountants of Alberta (CMA-Alberta) have agreed to labour mobility for their members in compliance with the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) between British Columbia and Alberta, Technology, Trade and Economic Development Minister Ida Chong announced today.

“By supporting freer labour mobility between British Columbia and Alberta, the organizations representing certified management accountants in both provinces have broadened the professional horizons of their respective memberships,” said Chong. “Greater mobility, based on mutual recognition of qualifications, will create more economic opportunities for CMAs and better service for their clients on both sides of the border.”

“With full labour mobility under the TILMA, certified management accountants in Alberta and British Columbia will have more choice and greater access to a wider range of clients,” said Ron Stevens, Alberta Deputy Premier and Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations. “In turn, consumers will be able to find the accountant that best meets their needs.”

Signed in April, 2006, the TILMA strives to reduce and eliminate barriers to the free movement of workers, goods, services and investments. The TILMA will take full effect in April 2009. Canada’s most comprehensive inter-provincial trade agreement, the TILMA creates a market of almost 7.8 million people – the nation’s second largest economy.

“By reaching this labour mobility agreement with CMA-Alberta, over 4,300 certified management accountants (CMAs) in B.C., and in particular our members in public practice, can now work in both provinces without having to complete additional regulatory registrations and paperwork,” said Colin Bennett, CMABC president and CEO. “This agreement expands our members’ professional reach and opens up employment opportunities for B.C. CMAs.”

“CMA-Alberta is very pleased to have been part of this landmark agreement. Removing artificial barriers to labour mobility is important to our membership and to the overall future economic success of Alberta and B.C,” said Joy Thomas, president and CEO of CMA-Alberta.

More information on the TILMA is available at www.tilma.ca and on the Ministry of Technology, Trade and Economic Development’s website at www.gov.bc.ca/tted.

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Contact:

Gordon Williams

Communications Director

250 952-0152

Mark Cooper

Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations

Communications

780 422-2465




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