Privacy and confidentiality
The privacy office
Our Privacy Office investigates and addresses concerns from donors, recipients, research participants, employees and the general public with regard to Canadian Blood Services’ collection, use, disclosure and retention of personal and confidential information, and demonstrates its commitment to protecting personal information by implementing notices and polices and through our Corporate Statements.
Canadian Blood Services adheres to the following fair information principles when collecting, using, disclosing or retaining personal information.
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Accountability - Canadian Blood Services is responsible for all personal information in its custody or control. The Assistant General Counsel is designated as the organization's Chief Privacy Officer.
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Identifying Purposes - Canadian Blood Services' provides information on the purposes for which it collects, uses, discloses and retains personal information. Personal information may be collected, used and disclosed by Canadian Blood Services for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate or as otherwise permitted by law.
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Consent - Canadian Blood Services obtains consent for collecting, using, disclosing and retaining an individual’s personal information by providing notice of the purposes for collection, use and disclosure. Prior to collecting and using an individual's personal information we shall obtain the consent of the individual or someone duly authorized to act on that individual’s behalf, unless the law authorizes collection, use or disclosure without consent.
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Limiting Collection - Canadian Blood Services limits the collection and use of personal information to that necessary for the identified purposes, unless otherwise permitted by law.
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Limiting, Use, Disclosure, and Retention - Canadian Blood Services limits the use, disclosure and retention of personal information to that necessary for the identified purposes, unless otherwise required by law. Canadian Blood Services retains personal information in accordance with its records retention schedule.
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Accuracy - Personal information is to be as accurate, complete and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used. Requests from individuals to correct personal information are to be made in writing to Canadian Blood Services' Access to Information Office.
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Safeguards - Canadian Blood Services protects personal information with security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
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Openness - Canadian Blood Services' Freedom of Information Policy (PDF) and Protection of Personal Information Policy (PDF) embrace the fair information principles of transparency, openness and accountability. We make information on our practices relating to management of personal information available to the public.
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Individual Access - Canadian Blood Services provides individuals who make a request with information on the existence, use, and disclosure of their personal information and gives them access to that information. Details on access to information and making a request can be found on our Web site at www.blood.ca under Privacy & Access to Information in the footer.
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Challenging Compliance - Requests for information on Canadian Blood Services’ privacy practices, or complaints of breaches of an individual’s privacy rights or of Canadian Blood Services’ privacy practices may be submitted to the Privacy Office by:
- E-mail: privacy@blood.ca
- Tel: (613) 739-2483 or toll free at 1-877-262-9191
- Fax: (613) 739-2345
- Mail:
Privacy Office
Canadian Blood Services
1800 Alta Vista Drive
Ottawa, ON K1G 4J5
In the event we are not able to resolve your concerns, you may wish to contact the Privacy Commissioner or Ombudsman in your province.
British Columbia Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia www.oipc.bc.ca |
Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta www.oipc.ab.ca |
Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner of Saskatchewan www.oipc.sk.ca |
Manitoba Office of the Ombudsman www.ombudsman.mb.ca |
Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario www.ipc.on.ca |
Quebec President Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec www.cai.gouv.qc.ca |
New Brunswick Ombudsman, Province of New Brunswick http://www2.gnb.ca/ |
Prince Edward Island Information and Privacy Commissioner of Prince Edward Island www.gov.pe.ca |
Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Privacy Review Office www.foipop.ns.ca |
Newfoundland and Labrador Information and Privacy Commissioner www.oipc.nl.ca |
Yukon Ombudsman and Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Yukon www.ombudsman.yk.ca |
Northwest Territories Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories Tel: (867)669-0976 |
Nunavut Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut http://www.info-privacy.nu.ca/ |