Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS)

Revised Handbook Appendices – Elevation of GAAP Designation of Application Guidance

PSAB issued amendments to elevate the level of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) designated for four CPA Canada Public Sector Accounting Handbook Appendices (i.e., what level of GAAP an appendix comprises) in February 2025. The GAAP designation level (i) per GAAP hierarchy in paragraph 03(d) of Section PS 1150, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles has been specified and paragraphs renumbered as AG.02, AG.02, etc. for four application guidance appendices:

• Appendix A to Section PS 3400, Revenue;
• Appendix B to Section PS 3410, Government Transfers;
• Appendix A to Section PS 3450, Financial Instruments; and
• Appendix A to Section PS 4270, Disclosure of Allocated Expenses by Not-for-Profit Organizations.

The elevation of the GAAP designation of these four application guidance appendices is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2026, with early application permitted.

The following amendments have also been made to Section PS 1150 to clarify the GAAP designation of PSA Handbook appendices:

• amended paragraph PS 1150.03(d)(i) to include all PSA Handbook application guidance appendices as level (i) GAAP;
• amended paragraph PS 1150.03(d)(i) to explicitly include the PS 4200 series of standards; and
• clarified paragraph PS 1150.16 to indicate that application guidance appendices are not merely illustrative but comprise level (i) GAAP, the same as the standards to which they are integral.

Effective for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2026, with early application permitted.

Revised Public Sector Guideline – Lessee Accounting for Operating Leases of Tangible Capital Assets

PSAB issued the following amendments to PSG-2, Leased Tangible Capital Assets in February 2025:

• deleted an outdated cross-reference to Section 3065, Leases in former Part V of the CPA Canada Handbook – Accounting, pre-changeover accounting standards, in Appendix A to PSG-2, Leased Tangible Capital Assets;
• renamed Appendix A as the glossary is no longer identified as an appendix, consistent with other glossaries in the PSA Handbook;
• added paragraphs PSG-2.4A-4C of to set out minimal requirements for lessee accounting for operating leases of tangible capital assets; and
• replaced the deleted cross-reference in the appendix with a reference to new paragraphs PSG-2.4A-4C

The new text in PSG-2 is taken from Section 3065 in former Part V of the Handbook. These changes do not comprise a change in practice and are effective immediately.

New standard – Financial Statement Presentation

PSAB issued a new financial reporting model (Section PS 1202), including related consequential amendments that responds to the need for understandable financial statements for the public and its elected and appointed representations and replaces Section PS 1201, Financial Statement Presentation. The new standard includes change to the presentation of financial statements, such as:

• changes in the statement of financial position
• adding a new statement of net financial assets or net financial liabilities
• providing the option to present the change in net financial assets or net financial liabilities on the statement of net financial assets or net financial liabilities
• adding a new statement of changes in net assets or net liabilities
• new budget requirements in order to present an amended budget

The statement of operations remains substantially unchanged to the one in superseded Section PS 1201. The new standard includes guidance in various appendices and illustrative financial statements and includes a discussion on going concern.

Effective for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2026, with early application permitted if the Conceptual Framework is adopted at the same time. The accompanying Basis for Conclusions document explains PSAB’s reasoning for key decisions made.

Revised standards – 2022-2023 Annual Improvements

PSAB issued the following narrow-scope amendments in April 2023 as a result of the 2022-2023 annual improvements:

• updated the transitional provisions in Section PS 3160, Public Private Partnerships, to explicitly state that early adoption is permitted and
• updated Section PS 3420, Inter-entity transactions, to clarify the application of accounting guideline, PSG-8, Purchased Intangibles, to inter-entity transactions.

Effective for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2023, with early application permitted.

PSAB issued the following 2022-2023 remaining annual improvements in February 2024:

• Replaced the phrase “summary financial statements” with “financial reports” in all standards where the phrase is used and added a cross-reference to Chapter 3 of the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting in the Public Sector to position financial statements as an important type of financial report.
• Clarified the “Introduction To Public Sector Guidelines” and removed outdated guidance related to local governments.
• Replaced the word “power” with “ability” or “authority”, as appropriate, given the use of “power” to reference sovereign or equivalent powers in Chapter 5 of the Conceptual Framework.
• Corrected grammatical errors in the decision tree in Section PS 3050, Loans Receivable.
• Replaced the word “government” with “public sector entity” or “entity”, as appropriate, in Sections PS 1150, PS 2400, PS 3150, PS 3250 and PS 3310.

These amendments are effective immediately.

PSAB issued the following editorial amendments in February 2025 as a result of the 2022-2023 annual improvements:

• indicated as illustrative only and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) designation level (iii) per GAAP hierarchy in paragraph 03(d) of Section PS 1150, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, for 50 appendices not identified as application guidance (excluding the appendices of Section PS 1202, Financial Statement Presentation, which already adopted this convention) and
• renumbered all eight illustrative appendices with paragraph numbers to IE.01, IE.02, etc. to reflect their designation as illustrative examples or material.

These editorial amendments are effective immediately.

New framework - The Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting in the Public Sector

The PSAB issued The Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting in the Public Sector, which replaces the conceptual aspects of Section PS 1000, Financial Statement Concepts and Section PS 1100, Financial Statement Objectives.

The conceptual framework highlights considerations fundamental for the consistent application of accounting issues in the absence of specific standards. The accompanying Basis for Conclusions document explains PSAB’s reasoning for key decisions made.

Effective for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2026, with early application permitted.

Exposure draft – Intangible Assets, Proposed Section 3155

PSAB issued an exposure draft proposing a new intangible assets standard that will replace Public Sector Guideline (PSG) 8, Purchased Intangibles. The proposed standard provides foundational guidance on intangible assets including the definition, recognition, measurement and required disclosures of intangible assets. The proposed standard covers both acquired and internally generated intangible assets. PSG-8 content has been incorporated into the new section, ensuring continuity of recognition for purchased intangibles. The scope of the proposed standard excludes intangible assets addressed in other Sections of the PSA Handbook, as well as other intangible items such as exploration and extraction costs for non-renewable resources or intangible assets related to insurance contracts. In alignment with PSAB’s international strategy, the proposed guidance leveraged principles from the existing International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) 31, Intangible Assets.

Comments are requested by May 30, 2025.

Online Survey – Cloud Computing Arrangements in the Canadian Public Sector

PSAB is developing a Canadian public sector accounting guideline to provide guidance on cloud computing arrangements (CCAs). They are currently seeking feedback on CCAs encountered in the Canadian Public Sector and they want to know more about the types of CCAs you encounter, the magnitude of costs, key arrangement terms, current accounting policies, and your unique challenges in practice.

Take part in an online survey by May 30, 2025.

Exposure draft – 2024-2025 Annual Improvements to Public Sector Accounting Standards

PSAB issued an exposure draft proposing terminology updates and amendments to align various sections of the PSA Handbook with PSAB’s Conceptual Framework and Reporting Model.

The comment period is closed.

Re-Exposure draft – Employee Benefits, Proposed Section PS 3251

PSAB issued a re-exposure draft proposing to clarify and simplify the proposals related to the discount rate for defined benefit plans. These proposed amendments are in response to feedback received from interested and affected parties on the Exposure draft – Employee Benefits, Proposed Section PS 3251 previously issued in July 2021. Proposed Section PS 3251 would replace Section PS 3250, Retirement Benefits and Section 3255, Post-employment Benefits, Compensated Absences and Termination Benefits.

The comment period is closed.

Exposure draft – Tangible Capital Assets, proposed amendments to Section PS 3150

PSAB issued an exposure draft aiming to increase comparability and transparency among public sector entities, including government not-for-profit organizations, by amending certain definitions, proposing additional guidance to ensure consistent application of the standard, and clarifying certain topics. This project is the first in a series of projects to implement PSAB’s Government Not-for-Profit Strategy, which encompasses a review of the PS 4200 series standards. Sections PS 4230, Capital Assets held by Not-for-Profit Organizations, and PS 4240 Collections held by Not-for-Profit Organizations, will be withdrawn as a result of the proposed amendments to Section PS 3150.

The proposed amendments would:

• amend the definition of “tangible capital asset”
• add guidance to identify a “collection”
• add disclosure requirements to highlight the importance of works of art, historical treasures, and collections
• add guidance to clarify the accounting treatment for situations addressed by the PS 4200 series.

The comment period is closed. Final Handbook amendments are expected to be issued in 2025.

International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board

Exposure draft – Tangible Natural Resources

IPSASB issued an exposure draft proposing a definition of tangible natural resources, as well as guidance on the recognition, measurement, display and disclosure of tangible natural resources. Prior to the development of this exposure draft, there was no explicit guidance on natural resources in IPSAS, or any other international accounting framework, so these resources were typically not reported in the general-purpose financial statements.

PSAB encouraged Canadians to respond to this exposure draft so Canadian perspectives would be considered in the development of the standard.

The comment period is closed. PSAB responded to IPSASB’s exposure draft.

Additional non-authoritative guidance

To stay ahead of the curve, find additional non-authoritative guidance to help you navigate the application of the Public Sector Accounting Standards.

• On-Demand Workshop – Introduction to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAB, 2023)
• Reporting Sustainability Program Information – Amendments to RPGS1 and 3: Additional non-authoritative guidance (IPSASB, 2023)

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