The Certified General Accountants Association of Canada says it wants changes made to rules in Quebec that deny CGAs from New Brunswick the right to practice public accounting in Quebec.

The association cited an August 19 panel report from the Agreement on Internal Trade that found the Quebec measures are inconsistent with the agreement, not necessary to protect the public, and should be changed.

“We are very pleased with these findings,” Anthony Ariganello, association president and CEO, said in a news release.

“They clearly show the status quo in Quebec is unacceptable and the time has come for action.”

The association’s New Brunswick wing recently launched a challenge under the Agreement on Internal Trade on behalf of members who it says are being refused the authority to audit clients in Quebec on the grounds that they are not performed by a chartered accountant.

The Agreement on Internal Trade, signed by all Canadian provinces/territories and the federal government, came into effect in 1995. It commits signatories to reduce and eliminate barriers to trade within Canada.