The New Privacy Act

Commencing January 1, 2004 the provincial government's of Alberta and British Columbia instituted the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). The Act applies to all private organizations. PIPA will regulate the way private sector organizations collect, use, keep secure and disclose personal information.

For specific information about PIPA in Alberta, visit the Alberta Government Privacy Sector web site.

For specific information about PIPA in British Columbia, visit the Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Management Services - Corporate Access and Privacy Branch web site.

The provisions of the Act apply to organizations that collect, use, or disclose personal information in the course of commercial activities and to all inter-provincial and international flows of personal information. The Act attempts to balance the right of privacy of all individuals with the need of organizations to collect use or disclose personal information for reasonable purposes. Where a province adopts legislation that is substantially similar, the organization will be exempt from PIPEDA for intra-provincial transactions.