To make a formal complaint about an improper collection, use or disclosure of your personal information, you will need to establish if the government body or private organization that holds your information is covered by privacy legislation.

Here are links that will take you to websites that will tell you how to make a complaint about abuse of your personal information in jurisdictions across Canada:

• The federal Privacy Act - for personal information held by the government of Canada and its agencies.
• The B.C Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act - for personal information held by the provincial government and other public bodies in British Columbia.
• Freedom of Information and privacy acts of other Canadian provinces and territories:
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • Alberta
  • Saskatchewan
  • Manitoba
  • Newfoundland
  • New Brunswick
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Nova Scotia
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
  • Northwest Territories

Personal information protection acts establish rules regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by private sector organizations. They also provide individuals with the right of access to their own personal information, the right to request it be corrected when it is incorrect, and the right to file a complaint about improper collection, use and disclosure of their personal information by private sector organizations.

At this time, there are four personal information protection acts covering private-sector organizations in Canada. They are:

• The federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
• Quebec's Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector.
• British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
• Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

A Privacy Protection bill covering the private sector has been proposed for Ontario but it is not enacted at this date. For more information:

• Ontario (White paper)

Some Canadian jurisdictions have enacted legislation to deal specifically with the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information by provincial health care organizations and other approved individuals and agencies. They are Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.

• Alberta
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba
• Ontario

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