Technology has had a profound impact on many fields, and forced industry leaders from publishing to retail to the automotive sector to rethink the way they go to market—and the value proposition they hold dear. It has also instilled a certain amount of fear about what the future might hold.

Grant Abrams would know. Abrams is a partner, Finance & Performance Management Services, at Deloitte in Ottawa, and works with CFOs to become strategic partners to their business, as well as helping them to become more efficient and effective organizational players. One of those ways is making sense of the increasing automation of finance.

Review the blog on CPA Canada's website.

Other regulatory authorities also have watchful eyes on ICOs. In this update, we look beyond securities regulators and securities regulations that might affect ICOs in Canada and discuss the potential for broader regulation.

Review the full article on Goodmans LLP's website.

The topics covered during the meeting included:

• Primary financial statements
• Disclosure initiative — Definition of material
• Disclosure initiative — Principles of disclosure
• Post-implementation Review of IFRS 13
• Wider Corporate Reporting
• Academic liaison
• Information deficiencies and consolidated financial statements
• Proposed improvements to IFRS 8
• Business Combinations Under Common Control
• Project updates and agenda planning

Review the press release and the summary of the meeting on the IASB's website.

The revised notice includes additional disclosure expectations that apply to all issuers with U.S. marijuana-related activities, including those with direct and indirect involvement in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana, as well as issuers that provide goods and services to third parties involved in the U.S. marijuana industry. Issuers are expected to provide these disclosures in prospectus filings and other required documents, such as their Annual Information Form and Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

The CSA will continue to monitor developments in the U.S. marijuana industry.

Review the press release on the CSA's website and the Staff Notice on the CSA members’ websites.

There is compelling evidence that innovation has been an important reason behind rising income inequality in advanced economies in recent decades.2 Research also finds that rising inequality can result in weaker and less-stable macroeconomic outcomes. This places us, as policy-makers, at a crossroads. Do we choose to stay on the same road and repeat the past? Or do we apply fresh thinking to policy and choose a new road where innovation delivers even stronger and more-inclusive growth?

This is the challenge that the G7 countries have set for themselves for 2018. Canada is proud to lead the G7’s work this year to better understand the issues so that we can set priorities for policy.

Review the remarks on the Bank of Canada's website.

In December 2017, the IASB concluded its discussions of the scope of the project and the webinar discussed the Board’s decisions and gives illustrative examples of transactions within the scope. The recording of the webinar lasts approximately 35 minutes.

Access the recording on the IASB's website.

The Department notes that a Mutual Evaluation report by the Financial Action Task Force ("FATF") found that Canada has strong anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing legislation and regulations, but noted there are several areas where action could be taken to ensure the framework meets technical standards and is even more effective.

Review the publication on the Department's website.

The supplemental draft Guidance is designed to help organizations worldwide respond to the increasing prevalence and severity of ESG-related risks, ranging from extreme weather events to product safety recalls.

COSO and WBCSD are seeking public comment on the draft Gu​idance and the previously released Executive Summary through June 30, 2018. Comment letters may be provided to risk@wbcsd.org​.

The guidance and executive summary are available on the COSO's website.

• Preliminary Draft Guidance
• Preliminary​ Draft Guidance (printable)
• Draft Executive Summary
• Draft Executive Summary (printable)​

Review the press release on the COSO's website.

This first report in a series of case studies across different countries that looks at significant developments in ESG reporting seeks to address the challenges, opportunities and next steps for corporate reporting and disclosure.

Review the report on the WBCSD's website.

From its intraday peak in December 2017 of $19,783, the price for bitcoin had fallen to $8,524, a decline of over 60%. Bitcoin’s price has fallen before and it has generally proven to be volatile. The price may yet escalate again. But if it has always been hard to specify a reason for the phenomenal price movements of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, there certainly have been recent developments aplenty to undermine the price for these digital assets.

Review the blog on the D&O Diary's website.