What is PIPEDA?

The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or PIPEDA, is an Act of the Government of Canada and overseen by the office of the federal Privacy Commissioner. Implemented in January 2004, PIPEDA limits the gathering of personal information to what is considered minimally necessary by businesses and governments, and regulates the use, access to, review and dissemination of that data.

PIPEDA gives individuals the right to understand what information is being collected by an organization, why it is needed, and how it is used, and permits the owner to view and (if necessary) correct the information. It also requires that an organization obtain your consent before using or disclosing any information about you. This ensures that information about you will be protected and not released to others without your knowledge.

If you believe an organization may have violated these principles you have the right to contact the office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada in confidence to raise a complaint. For further information, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at 1 (800) 282-1376 or see http://www.privcom.gc.ca/ .

Our Policy on Collection and Management Of Personal Information

The Ratepayers' Co-op is committed to protecting your privacy and safeguarding your personal information. All information collected via this website or at public meetings will be used for the sole purpose of communicating the actions and concerns of the Co-op to our members. To meet these goals, we request only information regarding electronic or postal mailing information, and your residence status within the Resort Village of Candle Lake for demographic studies.

We ask for your personal information so that we may:

Maximize distribution of Co-op newsletters and meeting notices using surface and electronic mail in the most timely and cost-effective manner possible; Respond to your requests for background information or clarifications of issues reported by us; Use aggregate residence information to ensure our organization is reaching the widest audience possible.

Other than as set forth above, the Ratepayers' Co-op will not otherwise use or disclose any of your personal information except where reasonably necessary to:

(i) process your information and to correct technical problems with our Web site;

(ii) protect the security and integrity of the Web site (e.g., to identify those that may attempt to attack or otherwise damage the website);

(iii) protect the rights and property of the Ratepayers' Co-op;

(iv) take precautions against liability;

(v) respond to claims that information posted by you in discussion forums or photo galleries violates the rights and interests of third-parties;

(vi) respond to judicial orders required to comply with applicable law; and

(vii) to assist law enforcement agencies in connection with investigations or matters related to public safety.

We prohibit the sale or transfer of your personal information with third parties for any other purposes without your consent, unless it is required by law.

When we collect personal information from you we will make you aware of the purpose(s) for collecting, using or disclosing the information and obtain your consent in an appropriate fashion consistent with the sensitivity of the information. If you wish to withdraw your consent for one or more purposes, please notify our secretary.

We rely on you to keep us informed of any changes in your personal information. If you believe that the personal information that we hold is incorrect, you can click on Update Your Profile in the Site Guide to review and revise your information online. You may also contact our Secretary to request a correction or to view your file. Appropriate measures are in place to protect the privacy of your personal information against loss, misuse or unauthorized access.

When guests visit the Association's web site, we collect some basic information regarding the use of our site, including the amount of traffic visiting the site, which pages are visited and for how long. This information does not identify individual users. It is used only at an aggregate level to help us understand trends and patterns and to improve the quality of our site for your use.

Guiding Principles of PIPEDA

PIPEDA's privacy provisions are based on 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.

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. 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. Consent - The knowledge and consent of the individual are required for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information, except when inappropriate. 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. 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. 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. Safeguards - Personal information shall be protected by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information. Openness - An organization shall make readily available to individuals specific information about its policies and practices relating to the management of personal information. 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. 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.