The requirement for independence in assurance and specified auditing procedures engagements is formally set out in the CGA-Canada Code of Ethical Principles and Rules of Conduct, (CEPROC) Trust and Duties and rule R202 of which this Standard forms an integral component. CEPROC requires that a member shall be free of any influence, interest, or relationship in respect of the client’s affairs which impairs the member's professional judgment or objectivity, or which, in the view of a reasonable observer may have that effect, and prohibits a member from issuing a communication in assurance or specified auditing procedures engagements unless the member has considered and either reduced to an acceptable level or eliminated any threats to the member’s independence.

The Standard provides members, members of assurance teams, firms and network firms with a conceptual framework for identifying, evaluating and responding to threats to independence and makes use of the conceptual framework contained in the International Federation of Accountants Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants.