CPA Canada’s innovative project to shape the future of accounting is entering a critical phase.
Since its launch in July, CPA Canada Foresight has hosted four in-person round tables with more than 100 attendees and 15 speakers, as well as an online discussion involving nearly 1,000 participants. Topics ranged from the digitization of the industry to changing ethical standards and how they will impact the role of CPAs.
For this next phase, participants are encouraged to continue the conversation and exchange ideas after watching a series of scenario videos. Each of the videos is themed and delivered in the format of a newscast. The scenarios, which span the years 2021 to 2030, focus on the challenges the world is facing and what actions would need to be taken to deal with them.
In this scenario, regulation on personal data, climate change and rapidly changing technology are key areas of concern, but progress is sluggish. While Canada has maintained stability, it’s facing severe environmental degradation and businesses and consumers are at risk due to unregulated goods and services.
The common good of everyone across the globe is the main goal in this scenario. The international community comes together to quell environmental and political instability and establish Sustainable Development Goals. As a result, immense progress is being made and world has managed to reduce its carbon footprint.
In this future, the four Tech Titans (Google, Amazon, Facebook and Alibaba) rule the economic roost and 60 per cent of Canadians work in the gig economy or as contractors and consultants. While technological advancement is rapid, it isn’t all rosy as tens of thousands of Canadians have lost employment to AI and robots.
Emphasis in this video is on communities turning inward to protect their own interests as worldwide crises have created an unstable global environment. A slow economy has led to boomers being in the workforce longer resulting in high youth unemployment. Trust and comfort in community are at an all-time high.
Open for commenting throughout December, the digital discussion will take place in tandem with in-person round tables being held across Canada. Once this phase of CPA Canada Foresight wraps up at the end of December 2018, information from the online and in-person discussions will be reviewed, with the findings set to be shared in 2019.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Participate in CPA Canada Foresight: Reimagining the Profession by joining the online discussion and sharing your thoughts on the four scenario videos. For more on the project, visit our website, which includes insights, videos with speakers, and more.