Home / Privacy Laws / Canada / PIPEDA

PIPEDA

The purpose of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act is to provide Canadians with a right of privacy with respect to their personal information that is collected, used or disclosed by an organization in the private sector in an era in which technology increasingly facilitates the collection and free flow of information.

The privacy principles in Schedule 1 of PIPEDA are taken from the Canadian Standards Association’s Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information, recognized as a national standard in 1996. The Standard addresses the ways in which organizations collect, use and disclose personal information. It also addresses the rights of individuals to have access to their personal information and to have it corrected if necessary.

The code’s 10 principles are:

1. Accountability: An organization is responsible for personal information under its control and shall designate an individual or individuals who are accountable for the organization's compliance with the following principles.

2. Identifying Purposes: The purposes for which personal information is collected shall be identified by the organization at or before the time the information is collected.

3. Consent: The knowledge and consent of the individual are required for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information, except when inappropriate.

4. Limiting Collection: The collection of personal information shall be limited to that which is necessary for the purposes identified by the organization. Information shall be collected by fair and lawful means.

5. Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention: Personal information shall not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by the law. Personal information shall be retained only as long as necessary for fulfilment of those purposes.

6. Accuracy: Personal information shall be as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used.

7. Safeguards: Personal information shall be protected by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.

8. Openness: An organization shall make readily available to individuals specific information about its policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.

9. Individual Access: Upon request, an individual shall be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of his or her personal information and shall be given access to that information. An individual shall be able to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended as appropriate.

10. Challenging Compliance: An individual shall be able to address a challenge concerning compliance with the above principles to the designated individual or individuals for the organization's compliance.

The Privacy Commissioner's Role

Complaints

Individuals will have the right to complain about any aspect of an organization’s compliance with the provisions relating to the protection of personal information to the federal Privacy Commissioner. The Commissioner will have general powers to receive and investigate complaints, and to attempt dispute resolution.

Remedies

Unresolved disputes relating to certain matters can be taken before the Federal Court. In addition to its normal powers, the Court may order an organization to correct its practices and award damages to the complainant. Punitive damages may not exceed an amount of $20,000.

Public Information

The Privacy Commissioner will have a mandate to develop and conduct information programs to foster public understanding of the privacy provisions of the Act.

Annual Report

The Privacy Commissioner will report annually on the application of the provisions on personal information and the extent to which the provinces have enacted legislation.