Protecting your privacy as a client

This notice applies to Statistics Canada clients who buy or use our data, products or services, visit our web site, or contact us for information. It does NOT apply to people, organizations, institutions or businesses who respond to our surveys; their information is protected by the Statistics Act. See also: When you give information in a Statistics Canada survey.

Your right to privacy and security is fundamental

We are fully committed to protecting the confidentiality of the information provided by our clients. This information will be used only to support your client relationship with Statistics Canada. The following explains how practices at Statistics Canada protect your privacy and your personal information.

You have a choice about how your personal information will be used. Statistics Canada is committed to helping you maintain control over which personal information you provide to us. You will be given the opportunity to inform Statistics Canada if you prefer not to receive promotional materials and/or to participate in market research. You are entitled to confirm that information held about you is correct and you may request changes to the information held about you or ask to be removed from our client file at any time.

Statistics Canada’s principles for client information privacy

Statistics Canada must ensure that client information, whether received online, by telephone, fax or mail, or by personal contact, is fully protected as required under the federal Privacy Act. The following are the principles developed by Statistics Canada to protect your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information.

• Statistics Canada will not sell, distribute, trade or transfer client information to other government departments, businesses, institutions, organizations or individuals outside the Agency for commercial or any other purposes, unless required by law.
• When you make a purchase from Statistics Canada, only the information required to complete your transaction will be requested.
• No personal information is gathered without your consent.

Privacy notices are found on all our order forms, invoices and on our web site. For online clients and visitors to the web site, Statistics Canada has also developed an Online Client Privacy Statement. It outlines our continued support for the responsible management of client information and explains our online information privacy principles and the choices you can make about the information you provide to us.

Why is information collected?

Statistics Canada requires information:

• to complete your sales transaction, deliver products or services to you, announce product updates and administer your account
• to offer you products and services that we think you would like to hear about
• to conduct market research to help us better serve you and our other clients.

Contact us, if you wish to:

• obtain a copy of your contact information
• change your contact information
• have your name removed from our client file for promotional and/or market research purposes
• ask questions or make comments about this privacy statement

If you are not satisfied that we have adequately responded to your privacy concerns, you may wish to contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at 1 800 282-1376 or www.privcom.gc.ca.