1980
A five-page letter to then Institute President Peter Newton explained the concept and the proposed method of implementation so he would be aware ahead of the Division’s 60th Anniversary Conference in Ottawa, which he and three Division Presidents would attend in May. Mr. Newton responded cautiously as he thought the idea was ultra vires under the Royal Charter. During the Conference, a meeting with Presidents of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U. K. produced full support from Australia and New Zealand, and limited encouragement from U. K., for the P Adm. scheme. The meeting also unanimously agreed that an International Affairs Committee should be established with annual meetings so that the U. K. and overseas units would better understand the different legal and social environments affecting each of them. The Division’s Chairman became the first Canadian to be elected by Council as a Vice – President of the Institute.
1981
In March the new Institute President, Eric Kirk wrote strongly about Canada’s likelihood of doing something ultra vires of the Charter and requesting further detailed information. All Divisions and major Associations throughout the world attended an Overseas Conference in London in May. Canadian Division presented a brief on its plans and only the U. K. was against the concept. The Conference did agree to recommend to Council that an International Affairs Committee with members from all Divisions and Associations be created and that the P Adm. matter be referred to its first formal meeting. Canadian Division sought legal advice from counsel, which confirmed that the Royal Charter could not interfere with the rights and privileges of a Canadian Corporation operating in Canada. A further brief was prepared for review by members of the International Affairs Committee ahead of its first meeting in Hong Kong in October. At that meeting, the Committee recommended to Council that it approve the P Adm. scheme in principle. In November, London Council obtained legal opinions in London that the Canadian proposals can be implemented without transgressing the Charter, the Bye-laws, or the 1957 agreement with Canadian Division.
1982
In January, Council approved the P Adm. scheme in principle but endorsed (then President) John Hardy’s desire that it be implemented under a separate entity.
In February, Canadian counsel advised that the wishes of the Council could not be accommodated under present laws. In March, Canadian Division presented a report to the Council explaining the difficulties in meeting the Council’s wishes and advising that the P Adm. scheme was to come into effect on April 1, 1982.
1983
Institute Officers attending Canadian Division’s Annual Conference in Vancouver in May raised further objections to the P Adm. scheme, insisting that it be portrayed as a Canadian scheme only and not applicable to the Institute per se. The Division agreed to submit one further brief to Council, duly modified and setting forth the history for the benefit of those on Council unfamiliar with the background, requesting Council’s concurrence, as a matter of courtesy rather than of necessity. The final brief to Council was submitted in October, which Council then accepted and endorsed.
1984
In June, Council constituted a standing Committee under Bye-law 44 to be known as the “Committee for Canada” comprising the Fellows who were members of the Canadian Division’s Professional Standards Board. Effective as of August 1st, Council delegated to that Committee certain powers including, inter alia, the election, and admission of members. On August 21st the Committee held its first meeting and elected two Graduates as Associates.
1985
The Canadian Chairman of the Institute’s International Affairs Committee was invited to give an address to the Annual Dinner in The Guildhall, London. In reporting on the accomplishments of that Committee, he restated Canada’s support for internationalism and mused that what was then the International Affairs Committee would evolve into the nucleus of a new international Council. Members in Canada reached 1,100; the number of students was 250.
1988
Council agreed to allow Members in Bermuda to choose between remaining on the London registry or transferring to that of the Canadian Division. This was prompted in some measure due to Bermuda’s economy and corporate business practices following those of North America, especially Canada. As many students in Barbados and other Caribbean islands were studying courses provided by Canadian Division and therefore taking the Division’s examinations, they sought Membership in this Division. A little unhappily, Council did not object too strenuously to this but finally agreed when the Division promised to elect as Members only those who had qualified under the Canadian syllabus. Council recognized that there might be Members in the United States who would benefit from contact with Members in Canada and could be transferred to Canada’s registry upon their request.