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AcSB

IFRS® Accounting Standards Discussion Group

About the Discussion Group

The Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) established the IFRS® Accounting Standards Discussion Group in November 2009 to implement and maintain a regular public forum to discuss issues that arise in Canada when applying IFRS Accounting Standards.

Staff Contact(s)

Jamie Goodman, CPA, CA Principal, Accounting Standards Board

Shalini Gupta, CPA, CA Principal, Accounting Standards Board

Search Past Meeting Topics

Use our searchable database to find out if the IFRS Accounting Standards Discussion Group has discussed a topic that you need information about! 

Submit an Issue

Did you know you can submit an issue to us for possible discussion at an upcoming meeting?

Meetings

The Group normally meets three times a year. Discussions regarding issues arising from the application of IFRS Accounting Standards are held in public and conducted in English. Audio webcasts of the Group’s discussion for each agenda topic are generally available online the week following the meeting. A report on the public meeting will be made available after each meeting.

Discussions of the Group to provide advice to the AcSB on potential changes to IFRS Accounting Standards are generally held in private. 

For upcoming meetings, visit the AcSB calendar.

 

Meeting & event summaries

See all meetings & events summaries
May 25, 2023

IFRS® Accounting Standards Discussion Group Meeting Report – May 25, 2023

The Group discussed Accounting for Lending Crypto Assets, Accounting for Earn-in Expenditures Prior to Acquisition of a Mining Interest, Accounting for the Development of Carbon Credits that will Ultimately be Sold, and more. Read the meeting report for full details!


December 5, 2022

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – December 5, 2022

The Group discussed the Impact of Climate-related Risk on Financial Statements, Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPAC): Accounting for Warrants at Acquisition, the Canadian Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Cessation of Canadian Dollar Offer Rates (CDOR), and more. Read the meeting report for full details!

October 25, 2022

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – September 21, 2022

At its September 21, 2022, meeting, the Group discussed hot topics such as the impact of rising inflation and interest rates on financial reporting, the financial reporting implications of OECD Pillar Two GloBE Rules, and the accounting for cash received via electronic transfer as settlement for a financial asset. Read the meeting report for details.

June 23, 2022

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – May 19, 2022

At its May 19, 2022, meeting, the Group discussed Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPAC): Accounting for Warrants at Acquisition, Financial Reporting Considerations of Hybrid Work Arrangements, IFRS 17: Matters for Non-insurance Entities, and more. Read the meeting report for full details.

January 28, 2022

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – December 15, 2021

Just in time for year-end reporting, the IFRS® Discussion Group is out with its December 2021 meeting report! The Group discussed financial reporting hot topics such as the IFRS® Interpretations Committee’s tentative agenda decision on accounting for cash received via electronic transfer as settlement for a financial asset and accounting for a renewable energy power purchase agreement. Read the full report for details.

October 27, 2021

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – September 22, 2021

At its September 22, 2021 meeting, the Group discussed financial reporting hot topics such as the IFRS® Interpretations Committee’s agenda decision on the costs necessary to sell inventories, accounting for crypto assets held on behalf of others, and an issuer’s accounting for green bonds. Read the meeting report for details.

June 28, 2021

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – May 20, 2021

At its May 20, 2021 meeting, the Group discussed many financial reporting hot topics such as the IFRS® Interpretations Committee’s tentative agenda decision on the configuration and customization costs in a cloud computing arrangement, an issuer’s accounting for subscription receipts, and accounting for standby costs and penalties incurred under a force majeure clause. Read the meeting report for details.

January 29, 2021

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – December 17, 2020

At its December 17, 2020 meeting, the Group discussed many financial reporting hot topics such as the IFRS® Interpretations Committee’s tentative agenda decision on the classification of debts as current or non-current, disclosure of the impact of COVID-19, and impairment testing of right-of-use assets. Read the meeting report for details.

January 21, 2021

AcSB Meeting – January 12, 2021

The Board discussed its Annual Plan, Performance Report, Post Implementation Review (IFRS 10, 11 and 12), and more. Read the Decision Summary for full details, including how stakeholders can provide feedback on these initiatives.

September 23, 2020

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – September 23, 2020

The Group discussed topics such as the impact that COVID-19 may have on an entity’s income statement presentation and application issues associated with the amendments on IAS 1 to classify a term loan as current or non-current. Read the full Meeting Report for helpful tips on these and other topics.

July 24, 2020

AcSB Decision Summary – July 15, 2020

The Board discussed Combinations and Employee Future Benefits. Read the Decision Summary for full details.

July 2, 2020

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – May 27, 2020

Just in time for Q2 Interim Reporting! Check out this meeting report summarizing the Group’s discussion on issues such as the accounting for COVID-19 related rent concessions, financial reporting considerations of COVID-19, classification of liabilities as current or non-current, and accounting for leases in a business combination.  

June 12, 2020

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report (COVID-19 Topics) – May 27, 2020

Need help with COVID-19 related financial reporting issues? Check out this meeting report summarizing the Group’s discussion on issues such as the accounting for COVID-19 related rent concessions and financial reporting considerations of COVID-19.  Check back this June for the complete summary of everything discussed at the May 27, 2020 meeting. 

December 12, 2019

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – December 12, 2019

The Group discussed topics such as lease term and useful life of leasehold improvements, application of definition of lease to a surface right, and impacts of climate change on financial reporting. Read about the views expressed by Group members for helpful tips on these and other topics.

September 25, 2019

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – September 25, 2019

The Group discussed topics such as accounting for sale-lease back transactions with variable payments, and application issues from an asset acquisition. Read about the views expressed by Group members for helpful tips on these and other topics.   

July 24, 2019

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report - June 20, 2019

The Group discussed topics such as timing of applying agenda decisions and determining lease payments under IFRS 16. Read about the views expressed by Group members for helpful tips and to stay up to date on past issues such as accounting for cryptocurrencies.  

February 14, 2019

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – January 10, 2019

The Group discussed topics such as 2019 interim disclosure considerations related to IFRS 16, credit enhancements and related party loans. Read about the views expressed by Group members for helpful tips and stay up-to-date on past issues such as accounting for asset retirement obligations.

November 22, 2018

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – October 16, 2018

The effective date of IFRS 16 is just around the corner. Read the Group’s discussions on various leases implementation topics. Also, keep up-to-date on other topics such as joint arrangements, share-based payments and cryptocurrencies. Learn more about the views expressed on these topics for helpful tips.

February 21, 2018

IFRS® Discussion Group Meeting Report – January 10, 2018

The Group discussed topics such as cryptocurrency, cloud computing, leases, and when to apply the clarifications for modifications or exchanges of financial liabilities. Read about the views expressed on these topics for helpful tips.

Members and Participants

The Group consists of:

  • a Chair, who is a member of the AcSB; 
  • a Vice-Chair; and
  • 15 to 25 other members with a range of backgrounds and experience, including preparers, users and auditors of financial reports prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. 

Members are generally appointed for a three-year term, renewable once.

In addition to members, the AcSB’s Chair and Director, Accounting Standards, attend the Group’s meetings. Several other individuals participate in the meetings, including:

  • Representatives of the Canadian Securities Administrators:
    • Anita Cyr – British Columbia Securities Commission
    • Mark Pinch – Ontario Securities Commission
  • Canadians who serve on IASB committees:
    • Karen Higgins – Member, IFRS Interpretations Committee

Others may be invited to participate in meetings on an ad hoc basis to contribute to discussions on particular issues. An individual who submits an issue can participate in the Group’s discussion of that issue.

 

Guy Jones

FCPA, FCA
Ernst & Young LLP
Toronto, ON
Chair and Member, IFRS Interpretations Committee

Gabriela Kegalj

FCPA, FCA
KPMG LLP
Toronto, ON
Vice-Chair

Alexis Brown

CPA, CA
Irving Oil Limited
Saint John, NB
Member

Andre Charbonneau

CPA, CA
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Ottawa, ON
Member

Andrew Gill

CPA auditor
Bombardier Inc.
Montréal, QC
Member

Bo Yuan

Canada Life Assurance Co.
Toronto, ON
Member

Brian Li

CPA, CA
Central 1 Credit Union
Vancouver, BC
Member

Cathy Louladakis

CPA auditor
PSP Investments
Montréal, QC
Member

Christopher Boland

CPA, CA, CMA
Chris Boland Professional Corporation
Ottawa, ON
Member

Diana De Acetis

CPA, CA
Deloitte LLP
Toronto, ON
Member

Erin Rao

CPA, CA
Erin Rao, CPA, Consulting Services
Surrey, BC
Member

Glen McFarland

CPA, CA
McGovern Hurley LLP
Toronto, ON
Member

Janice Anderson

CPA, CA
Nutrien Ltd.
Calgary, AB
Member

Jeffrey Glassford

CPA, CA
Ernst & Young LLP
Toronto, ON
Member

Joel Babich

CPA, CA
Baker Tilly WM LLP
Vancouver, BC
Member

Joseph Bartlett

CPA auditor
Lightspeed Commerce
Montréal, QC
Member

Katie Kerrigan

CPA, CA
Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Ottawa, ON
Member

Katie Quinn

CPA, CA
Grant Thornton LLP
Mississauga, ON
Member

Lucie Lavoie

CPA auditrice
Mazars, S.E.N.C.R.L.
Montreal, QC
Member

Marie-Annick Viau

CPA auditrice
Laurentian Bank of Canada
Montréal, QC
Member

Marie-France Mayer

CPA auditrice
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Montréal, QC
Member

Martin Boucher

CPA
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Montréal, QC
Member

Patrick Courval

CN Investment Division
Montréal, QC
Member

Shane Hilkowitz

CPA, CA
MNP LLP
Mississauga, ON
Member

Sona Ruparelia

CPA, CA
BDO Canada LLP
Toronto,
Member

Steve Fortin

PhD, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON
Member

Susan Wood

CPA, CA
Acadian Timber
Edmundston, NB
Member

Wael El Abed

CPA, CA
TD Bank
Toronto, ON
Member