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Search Past PSA Discussion Group Meeting Topics

Search and sort the table below to find out if the PSA Discussion Group discussed a topic that you need information about.

See Archived Meeting Reports for specific PSA Discussion Group meetings.

Date Section Description Report
September 5, 2013 various 2012-2013 Financial Statements
  • The application of new Handbook Sections.
View Document
September 5, 2013 PS 3410 Government Transfers
  • Consider whether the authority to pay is a requirement to record a transfer liability.
View Document
September 5, 2013 PS 3410 Government Transfers
  • Consider indicators of when the actions and communications of a transfer recipient evidence little or no discretion to avoid a liability.
View Document
September 5, 2013 PS 3410 Government Transfers
  • Consider whether a liability arises due to stipulations associated with a government transfer that requires the acquisition and use of tangible capital assets.
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September 5, 2013 PS 3230 Long-Term Debt
  • Consider the presentation of sinking funds associated with government debt issued specifically on behalf of a government business enterprise.
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January 7, 2014 PS 2120 Adjustments Made in a Period Subsequent to Identification of an Accounting Error
  • Consider the reporting implications when an adjustment is recorded in a period subsequent to identification of an accounting error.
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January 7, 2014 PS 3260 Determining When Assets Are “No Longer in Productive Use”
  • Consider whether sites currently in productive use are accounted for in accordance with Section PS 3260 and different views on “productive use”.
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January 7, 2014 PS 1201 Presentation of Budget Information
  • Consider different views on basing the budget figures presented by a governmental unit on those originally planned.
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January 7, 2014 PS 2510 PS 3230 Presenting Debt Obligations of a Government Business Enterprise
  • Consider different views on presenting debt obligations issued by a government on behalf of a governmental unit that subsequently becomes a government business enterprise.
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January 7, 2014 PS 1201 Reporting on Financial Position by a Governmental Unit
  • Consider different views on presenting net debt and a statement of changes in net debt by a governmental unit.
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May 6, 2014 PS 3410 Constructive Obligations and Transfers Expense
  • Consider different views on the recognition of an expense by a transferring government.
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May 6, 2014 PS 3070 Modified Equity Method – Implementing New Accounting Standards
  • Consider different views on accounting changes arising from the implementation of new accounting standards by a government business enterprise.
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May 6, 2014 PS 1201 PS 1300 PS 2601 PS 3450 Presentation of Remeasurement Gains and Losses
  • Consider the circumstances of an organization that controls an investment corporation and has adopted IFRS.
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May 6, 2014 PS 3250 "Shared-Risk" Retirement Benefit Arrangements
  • Consider different views on the classification of retirement benefit arrangements with "shared risk" characteristics.
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June 4, 2018 Reporting Model – Statement of Principles Reporting Model – Statement of Principles
  • Consider the merits of two aspects of the proposed reporting model: net debt, and the possible recognition of some revenue and expense arising in a period outside of the period’s surplus/deficit – directly in a component of net assets or net liabilities.
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January 15, 2015 PS 1201 Presentation of Budget Information
  • Consider issues that may arise when presenting a comparison of the results for the accounting period with those originally planned.
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January 15, 2015 PS 3250 "Shared-Risk" Retirement Benefit Arrangements
  • Consider different views on the measurement of the accrued benefit obligation when retirement benefit arrangements have "shared-risk" characteristics.
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January 15, 2015 N/A Standard Setting in the Public Interest
  • Consider what constitutes the scope and characteristics of the public interest.
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January 15, 2015 SORPs The Value of Statements of Recommended Practice (SORPs)
  • Consider how SORPs support reporting on the performance of public sector entities.
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May 7, 2015 PSG 2 Contractual Obligations
  • Consider use of the term “contractual obligations” in describing matters to be disclosed.
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May 7, 2015 PS 3410 Gas Tax Agreements
  • Consider different views on accounting by municipalities and government organizations, for gas tax funding under new federal agreements.
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May 7, 2015 PS 3200 and PS 3260 Remediation Obligations
  • Consider different views on the application of Section PS 3260.
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May 7, 2015 PS 1201 The Term “Net Debt”
  • Consider alternatives to the term “net debt”.
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October 27, 2015 PS 3150

Acquisition and Development of Software Associated with Cloud Computing

  • Consider alternative ways to account for software associated with cloud computing.
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October 27, 2015 PS 3260 Liability for Contaminated Sites
  • Consider different views on the recognition of a liability for remediation of a contaminated site for sites that have not been tested for contamination.
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October 27, 2015 N/A Standard Setting in the Public Interest
  • Review a draft public interest framework for PSAB.
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October 27, 2015 PS 3200, PS 3250, PS 3255 Vacation Paid in the Year of Retirement
  • Consider different views of accounting for vacation paid in the year of retirement.
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March 3, 2016 PS 1000, PS 1300 Definition of Government in Relations to First Nations Trusts
  • Consider the definition of government in relation to First Nations Trusts in applying the requirements of Section PS 1300.
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March 3, 2016 PS 1000, PS 3100, PS 3200, PS 3210 Endowments – Selected Issues
  • Consider different views on the recognition of endowments in the financial statements of government not for profit organizations that use the PSA Handbook without the PS 4200 series in preparing their financial statements.
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March 3, 2016 PSA Handbook Professional Judgment
  • Consider the need for guidance on the making and documentation of professional judgments.
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March 3, 2016 PS 3450 Section PS 3450 vs. IFRS 9 vs. ASPE – A Presentation on Financial Instruments
  • Consider a presentation that contrasts these standards and discuss their differences.
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November 18, 2016 PS 1000, PS 1201 Recognition Prohibitions and Early Intervention Investments
  • Consider whether early intervention investments can be recognized as assets in public sector financial statements
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November 18, 2016 PS 1000, PS 1201 Recognition Prohibitions and Urban Forests
  • Consider whether urban forests can be recognized as assets in public sector financial statements
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November 18, 2016 Introduction, PS 1300 Scope of the Public Sector
  • Consider how to apply the Introduction to Public Sector Accounting Standards in determining the standards to be applied by not-for-profit-organizations
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November 18, 2016 PS 3060 Shared Control
  • Consider the application of guidance on determining shared control in relation to government partnerships
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November 18, 2016 Introduction, PS 1300 Whether an Investment Holding Company Can Be a Government Business Enterprise
  • Consider the nature of an investment holding company in the public sector and if it can meet the definition of a government business enterprise
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March 15, 2017 PS 3410 Authority to Pay and Transfer Receivables
  • Consider whether there are varying interpretations of the need to have the authority to pay before a transfer receivable is recognized.
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March 15, 2017 PS 2600 Foreign Currency Debt – Rates and Hedges
  • Consider selected issues relating to foreign currency denominated debt for government departments and organizations.
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March 15, 2017 PS 1300 Trusts and Holding Companies – Economic Substance
  • Consider the economic substance of trusts and holding companies for the purposes of applying Section PS 1300.
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November 17, 2017 Introduction Compliance-Type Audit Reports: Implications for Public Sector GAAP
  • Consider the implications for public sector GAAP of compliance-type audit reports on general purpose financial statements not prepared in accordance with the PSA Handbook.
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November 17, 2017 PSG-2 PSG-2 vs. IFRS 16 on Consolidation of Entities using IFRS® Standards: Lessee Accounting for Operating Leases
  • Consider whether it is permissible on consolidation for a controlling entity to not conform the accounting for the operating leases of a consolidated entity from IFRS 16 to the accounting requirements of PSG-2.
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November 17, 2017 PS 3430 Section PS 3430: Restructuring Transactions – Recipient Adjustments
  • Consider the adjustments a recipient might make in recognizing assets received in a restructuring that are immaterial to the transferor but material to the recipient.
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November 17, 2017 PS 1000, PS 1201, PS 3150 Sections PS 1000, PS 1201 and PS 3150: Green Infrastructure
  • Consider the extent to which the PSA Handbook allows green infrastructure to be recognized in public sector financial statements.
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November 17, 2017 PS 3200, PS 3300, PS 3390 Sections PS 3200, PS 3300 and PS 3390: Social Impact Bonds – Government Funder Perspective
  • Consider how social impact bonds should be accounted for in the financial statements of a government funder.
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June 4, 2018 Conceptual Framework – Statement of Concepts Conceptual Framework – Statement of Concepts
  • Consider the merits of two of PSAB’s proposed financial statement concepts: control, and service capacity.
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June 4, 2018 International Strategy – Consultation Paper PSAB’s International Strategy – Consultation Paper
  • Consider the merits of the criteria PSAB proposes to use in evaluating options for a future international strategy.
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June 4, 2018 PS 3100, PS 3510 Sections PS 3100 and PS 3510: Municipal Off-Site Lot Levies
  • Consider whether off-site lot levies should be recognized as liabilities if unused for specified purposes at the reporting date, or as tax revenue as the land to which the levies apply is developed.
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June 4, 2018 PS 3200, PS 3300 Sections PS 3200, PS 3300: Public Liability Claims
  • Consider the need for liability recognition of claims relating to incidents that are unknown to the reporting entity, but occurred before the reporting date.
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November 19, 2018 Section PS 3070: Accounting for Indigenous Government Business Enterprises

Section PS 3070: Accounting for Indigenous Government Business Enterprises

  • Consider five issues relating to the accounting for government business enterprises (GBEs) in the financial statements of Indigenous governments.
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November 19, 2018 Section PS 3380: Contractual Rights

Section PS 3380, Contractual Rights

  • Consider whether various scenarios meet the definition of contractual rights that should be disclosed.
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November 19, 2018 Sections PS 1000 and PS 1201: Green Infrastructure – Further Issues

Sections PS 1000 and PS 1201: Green Infrastructure – Further Issues

  • Consider further issues in accounting for green infrastructure in public sector financial statements
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November 19, 2018 Statement of Principles: “A Revised Reporting Model for the Canadian Public Sector”

Statement of Principles: “A Revised Reporting Model for the Canadian Public Sector”

  • Consider the merits of a key proposed aspect of the proposed reporting model: the possible recognition of some revenue and expense arising in a period outside of the period’s surplus/deficit – directly in a component of net assets or net liabilities.
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April 26, 2019 PSAB’s International Strategy – Consultation Paper 2

PSAB’s International Strategy – Consultation Paper 2

  • Consider PSAB’s options for a future international strategy.
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April 26, 2019 Section PS 3380: Developer Fees and Contractual Rights

Section PS 3380: Developer Fees and Contractual Rights

  • Consider whether developer agreements give rise to contractual rights that should be disclosed.
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April 26, 2019 2019-04-26-Section PS 3450: Accounting for Cryptocurrencies

Section PS 3450: Accounting for Cryptocurrencies

  • Consider how to account for cryptocurrencies held by a public sector entity.
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April 26, 2019 Section PS 3510: Taxes Levied for Specific Purposes

Section PS 3510: Taxes Levied for Specific Purposes

  • Consider when taxes levied for specific purposes would require recognition of a liability.
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April 26, 2019 Sections PS 1000 and PS 1201: Accounting for Purchased Intangibles

Sections PS 1000 and PS 1201: Accounting for Purchased Intangibles

  • Consider whether purchased intangibles can be recognized in public sector financial statements.
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November 15, 2019 PSAB’s Government Not-For-Profit Consultation Paper

PSAB’s Government Not-For-Profit Consultation Paper

  • Provide advice to PSAB on advantages and disadvantages from a user perspective of consistent reporting between governments and GNFPOs, and/or within GNFPO subsectors.
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November 15, 2019 Sections PS 1300 and PS 3070: When is a GBE no longer a GBE?

Sections PS 1300 and PS 3070: When is a GBE no longer a GBE?

  • Consider factors that may indicate that the government business enterprise (GBE) definition is no longer met and a change in financial reporting framework is required.
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November 15, 2019 Sections PS 3400 and PS 3510: User fees versus Taxes

Sections PS 3400 and PS 3510: User fees versus Taxes 

  • Consider whether a levy is a user fee or a tax, and whether Section PS 3400, Revenue, or Section PS 3510, Tax Revenue, would thus apply.
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November 15, 2019 The Final Report of the Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance

The Final Report of the Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance

  • Consider the implications for public sector financial reporting and standard setting.
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July 17, 2020 Section PS 1300

Section PS 1300: First Time Consolidation When There is a Change in Control

  • Consider the impact of a change in governance on the assessment of control for consolidation purposes.
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July 17, 2020 Sections PS 1000, PS 1201, PS 3150 and PS 3210

Implementation Costs When Cloud Computing Solutions are not Software Assets

  • Consider whether an asset would be recognized for implementation costs and if so, its amortization, taking into account extension options.
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November 20, 2020 N/A

Future Considerations: Roundtable on Emerging Issues

  • The Group will discuss emerging issues in public sector financial reporting.
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November 20, 2020 Introduction: Section PS 4250

Government Not for Profit Organizations (GNFPOs): Changing Financial Reporting Frameworks

  • Consider the “private sector counterparts” aspect of the definition of a GNFPO and the impact of controlled profit-oriented entities on the classification of a government organization as a GNFPO.
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April 8, 2021 PSAB’s Government Not-For-Profit Consultation Paper II

PSAB’s Proposed Government Not-for-Profit Strategy

  • Consider PSAB’s proposed GNFP Strategy of PSAS incorporating the PS 4200 series with potential customizations, if this strategy best meets the Canadian public interest, and ways to implement it.
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April 8, 2021 PSAB’s Exposure Draft Financial Statement Presentation, Proposed Section PS 1202

PSAB’s Proposed New Reporting Model: Two Exposure Draft Proposals

  • Consider the proposal to create two categories of liabilities, financial and non-financial, and whether the distinction between them is clear.
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April 8, 2021 Section PS 3280

Section PS 3280, Asset Retirement Obligations (AROs): Issues Applying the Modified Retroactive Transition Method

  • Consider applying the modified retroactive method of transitioning to Section PS 3280 to two scenarios: a building constructed with asbestos when the legislation requiring its removal is enacted after the construction date; and a fully amortized asset that remains in productive use.
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November 12, 2021 Section PS 3450

Section PS 3450: Embedded Derivatives in Own-use Contracts

  • Consider whether embedded derivatives in own-use contracts are in the scope of Section PS 3450.
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November 16, 2023 Section PS 3150

Accounting for Extreme Weather: Effects on Tangible Capital Assets

  • Consider the impacts of extreme weather events on public sector entities’ reporting and disclosure of tangible capital assets. 
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November 16, 2023 Considerations on Developing a Natural Resources Inventory

Inventorying of Natural Assets – Considerations on How to Develop a Natural Asset Inventory

  • Consider concepts and approaches on how public sector entities may be able to assemble a natural assets inventory.
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November 16, 2023 Section PS 1202

Exploring Scalability of Standards

  • Considers the scaling the existing accounting frameworks to better meet the reporting needs of public sector entities and the information needs of their financial statement users.
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November 16, 2023 Section PS 3150

Accounting for Extreme Weather: Effects on Tangible Capital Assets

  • Consider the impacts of extreme weather events on public sector entities’ reporting and disclosure of tangible capital assets. 
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June 7, 2024 Section PS 1150, ASPE Section 3065, IPSAS 43, PSG 2

Application of GAAP Hierarchgy – Operating Leases, Lessee Accounting Treatment

  • Consider the accounting treatment that public sector entities should apply to operating leases.
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June 7, 2024 Section PS 3280

Asset Retirement Obligations: Exploration of Potential Application Issues

  • Consider potential applications issues public sector entities may experience in exercising professional judgment when evaluating certain aspects of asset retirement obligations.
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November 12, 2021 Financial Reporting of Natural Capital (no handbook section)

PSAB’s Proposed New Reporting Model: Two Exposure Draft Proposals

  • Consider the benefits, issues, and challenges with reporting natural capital in financial statements.
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May 12, 2022 IPSASB Consultation Paper on Sustainability Reporting

International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board Consultation Paper, Advancing Public Sector Sustainability Reporting

  • Consider the benefits, issues, and challenges with the introduction of IPSASB’s Consultation Paper on Sustainability Reporting
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May 12, 2022 General application standards: Sections PS 3200, 3210

General Application Standards: Effective Dates and Application

  • Consider various application methods with respect to general application standards
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May 12, 2022 All PSA Handbook

Climate-related questions to ask under existing GAAP

  • Consider financial reporting implications of climate-related impacts
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November 10, 2022 Sections PS 1000 and PS 3210

Section PS 1000 and PS 3210: Can a Public Sector Entity Recognize an Asset for Carbon Credits?

  • Consider the uncertainty that Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS) would apply to the recognition and measurement of carbon credits in various circumstances.
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November 10, 2022 Statement of Cash Flow

Presenting Certain Items on the Statement of Cash Flow

  • Consider issues related to how public sector organocations need to present various items in the Statement of Cash Flows.
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November 10, 2022 Cloud Computing – Accounting for Implementation Costs

Cloud Computing: Accounting for Implementation Costs in the Context of a Government Partnership.

  • Consider whether implementation costs related to Cloud Computing Arrangements that are service arrangements should be capitalized or expensed under PSAS.
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November 10, 2022 Cloud Computing – Government Partnerships

Cloud Computing: Accounting for Implementation Costs in the Context of a Government Partnership

  • Consider how to account for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement, which is a service arrangement by individual partners to a government partnership.
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June 8, 2023 Canadian Economic Overview and Potential Impacts to the Public Sector

Canadian Economic Overview and potential Impacts to the Public Sector

  • Introductory overview provided by CPA Canada’s Chief Economist on economic trends and considerations of potential impacts to the Canadian public sector to support discussions for the two agenda topics.
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June 8, 2023 Impacts of Rising Inflation and the Economic Environment on Financial Reporting

Impacts of Rising Inflation and Economic Environment on Financial Reporting 

  • Considered issues relating to how public sector organizations are to assess the financial and accounting impacts resulting from shifts in economic outlook
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June 8, 2023 CAS 570

Auditor Reporting on Going Concern: Public Sector Considerations

  • Considered issues relating to how public sector organizations are to assess the financial and accounting impacts resulting from shifts in economic outlook.
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Disclaimer: The documents included in this searchable table were prepared by the staff of the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB), based on discussions that occurred at PSA Discussion Group meetings, and do not reflect any subsequent developments. 

The Group’s discussions and Reports on Meetings do not constitute official pronouncements or authoritative guidance.  Comments made in relation to the application of the PSA Handbook do not purport to be conclusions about acceptable or unacceptable application of the PSA Handbook.  Only PSAB can make such a determination.