Pivot Magazine November/December 2019
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Named BEST MAGAZINE by the National Magazine Awards: B2B + AFTER #METOO: WHAT SHOULD COMPANIES DO? THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE PLASTIC STRAW THE CPA WHO SAILED AROUND THE WORLD ‘Hi, I’m Mike’ With those three words, Deloitte’s chief of staff came out as trans and changed Bay Street forever NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS TO SUCCEED. WE’RE HERE TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN. ADVOCACY RESOURCES SAVINGS Don’t wait for the next election Whether it’s working with CRA We’ve taken the stress to get governments’ attention. or understanding government out of choosing providers for We bring your views to them rules, there are times when you your business needs, like payroll every day, so they understand need extra support. Our business and telecom services. Save with how their policies affect you. counsellors are here to help. our exclusive discounts. JOIN 110,000 BUSINESSES THAT ARE SET UP FOR SUCCESS CFIB.CA/ACCOUNTING 1-888-234-2232 CONTENTS 4 | From the CEO FIRST IN 6 | Why Canada’s entertainment industry is winning the streaming war. 8 | A catalogue of outlandish cons. 10 | Changing the world by building a better bra. 12 | Never have another ON THE pointless meeting again. COVER Michael Cherny, 14 | How the Big Four fare Deloitte Canada’s on diversity and inclusion. chief of staff. PHOTOGRAPH BY KATHERINE 15 | A grassroots anti-flying HOLLAND movement wants to keep Canadians grounded. 18 | Plastic straws, from invention to revolution. COLUMNS 40 20 | Want more taxpayers to file online? Make the process simpler. FEATURES 21 | Canadian productivity 24 | Meet Michael is dismal. Here’s the solution. When Deloitte’s chief of staff came out as trans, he became a beacon of diversity on buttoned-down Bay Street. CLARIFICATION LAST OUT BY JASON MCBRIDE “Seed capital” (September/ October 2019) 47 | Would you implant 30 | Back to the future identified a microchip in your hand? Last fall, CPA Canada’s Foresight process developed four possible Blair Wilson as a “a long-time 48 | visions of the coming decades. One year later, how do they stack up? CPA.” To clarify, The real reason BY JOHN LORINC Wilson is no retailers let you try before longer a CPA. you buy. 34 | After #MeToo Two years after the movement began, women’s willingness to report 52 | Inside the cut-throat workplace harrassment has changed. Have companies? meal kit market. BY ADRIENNE TANNER 54 | GRANT HARDERGRANT Where to eat, drink 40 | The fan whisperer and stroll in Calgary. Pro sports teams track every pass, point and play to get an edge on the competition. Now their stats obsession is helping them win fans, too. 58 | Around the world in PHOTOGRAPH BY BY MICHAEL MCCULLOUGH 11 months. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 PIVOT 3 CPA-TOC_EN.indd 3 2019-10-10 3:35 PM FROM THE CEO The examination was disrupted by compounding technological challenges related to software, Wi-Fi and, in some cases, both. Though contingency plans are always in place for our examinations, the compounded problems were challenging. It is clear that more work is needed to mitigate risks of technology failure during examinations, and we are working with service providers as well as our provincial counterparts to do that. In speaking with members, students, staff and others, one thing is clear: We all desire a fair and equitable solution and we all have a vested interest in upholding the high standards of our profession. As many of you know, the CFE evaluation process is overseen by an independent Board of Examiners. Over the years, they have developed a robust system for taking into AN UNCOMMON EXAMINATION account extenuating circumstances The accounting profession is built on integrity and professionalism. that affect exam writers. Given what Those high standards are being applied in our review of the problems occurred this year, the evaluation experienced during the writing of this year’s CFE. BY JOY THOMAS process will also be supplemented TORONTO by a third-party review. A leading psychometrician with expertise Dedicated readers of this column In the moments between meetings assessing how a fair outcome can will note that I have often written coordinating our response to this be achieved has been retained. ST AT BISHAST AT HOTEL, in the past about the transformative year’s CFE disruptions, letters from This information is being augmented KŌ power of technology, with its our students have prompted personal by an independent technical review. balance of risks and rewards. Our reflections on my own final exam- Now, as I’m writing this in early SHOT AT profession has now experienced this writing experience. When I wrote October, these processes are in their reality firsthand. in Nova Scotia, we were seated at early stages. By the time you read this, As I sit down to write this, in the long, wooden communal tables. my hope is that they will be well aftermath of a Common Final The young man seated next to me advanced. We recognize the desire Examination that went far from was so nervous and trembling so for more information, and we have smoothly, my thoughts are first violently that he knocked over a jug committed to continuing to keep and foremost with those students of water and soaked my exam papers. students and members up to date. who endured hours-long delays Today, the technology that we I encourage you to visit our website for CLAUDINE BALTAZAR/PLUTINO GROUP; and frustrations with Wi-Fi or use to administer our exams has the latest information on this matter. software at certain writing centres changed, yet the high stakes and Speaking with one of our stake- across the country. raw nerves remain the same. holders in recent weeks, I was told, As a result, across the CPA profes- Advancements in technology have “Don’t let this incident dissuade sion we have heard from hundreds of been key to our ability to grow you from embracing technology.” HAIR AND MAKEUP BY students about their challenges with nationwide, offering thousands of I agree. We cannot return to an era the CFE examination in September. students the opportunity to take of paper-and-pencil examinations. I have personally read and responded complex, standardized examinations In 2020, we look forward to adminis- MATT BARNES; to many of these emails. in their local communities in a con- tering two Common Final Examina- As CPAs, we all remember the temporary and convenient manner. tions, instead of the customary incredible stress of preparing for Of course, the September 2019 single sitting, and we know what must and writing our final examinations. CFE was anything but convenient. be accomplished before then. ◆ PHOTOGRAPH BY 4 PIVOT NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 CPA-PresLetter_EN.indd 4 2019-10-17 4:28 PM Named BEST MAGAZINE Pivot is published six times a year by the Chartered Professional Accountants by the National of Canada in partnership with St. Joseph Media. Opinions expressed are not Magazine necessarily endorsed by CPA Canada. Copyright 2019. 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