Members of the public are encouraged to submit issues for possible consideration by the Public Sector Accounting Board’s (PSAB) Public Sector Accounting (PSA) Discussion Group.
For an issue to be considered for a meeting, it should be submitted at least eight weeks prior to an upcoming meeting. If your submission is received less than eight weeks prior to an upcoming meeting, it will be considered for a future meeting.
How to Submit an Issue
If you want to submit an issue for the Group’s discussion following your initial contact with the PSA Discussion Group Secretary, use our template to complete the submission.
PSA Discussion Group – Submit an Issue Template
Send it in using the “Contact Us” button above. The Secretary will review the submission and then work with you to finalize it for the Group’s discussion.
Submission Requirements
The Secretary will help you determine if your issue fits within the PSA Discussion Group mandate and qualifies for discussion. And the submission template will help you to create the submission. But here’s a summary of some of the elements of a submission to help you get started:
- Identify the issue in two sentences or less.
- The body of the submission should outline:
- relevant references within the PSA Handbook;
- the nature of the uncertainty in the application of the PSA Handbook;
- the major alternatives considered; and
- other relevant facts and circumstances.
- Briefly explain how the issue meets the Group’s agenda criteria:
- Does the issue arise from the preparation of general-purpose financial statements of a government or government organization applying the PSA Handbook as its primary source of GAAP?
- Is the issue widespread or does it have significant implications for public sector reporting?
- Is there currently, or the potential for, significant inconsistencies arising from interpretation of a standard?
- Is the issue an emerging issue that would benefit from discussion in a public forum?
The Secretary will contact the submitter no later than two weeks before the meeting to advise whether the issue has been selected for discussion. The submitter will have the right to participate, or appoint a representative to participate, in the discussion of that issue at the Group meeting. Participation can be in person at the CPA Canada offices in Toronto or through video conference as part of the livestream of the meeting. If specifically requested, the submitter will remain anonymous.