Introduction

Visitor rights regarding personal data

Visitors may have rights under Canadian privacy laws and, in some cases, other applicable regulations. These rights can include access, rectification, deletion, restriction, objection, and portability, each subject to certain conditions and legal limits. Exercising these rights helps ensure that personal data remains accurate, up to date, and used in ways that align with visitor expectations and legal requirements.

• • Right to request confirmation about whether personal data is processed and to obtain a copy in a commonly used format.
• • Right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data held about the visitor.
• • Right to request deletion of personal data where it is no longer needed, subject to legal or legitimate retention requirements.
• • Right to request a copy of certain personal data in a structured, commonly used format and, where technically feasible, to ask for it to be transmitted to another organisation.
• • Right to object to certain types of processing, including analytics or marketing activities, where permitted by applicable law.
• • Right to request restriction of processing in certain situations, such as while the accuracy of data is being verified or an objection is being reviewed.

Data retention

Personal data is kept only for as long as needed to fulfil the purposes described in this policy, including responding to enquiries, maintaining security, and meeting legal or regulatory obligations. After these periods, information is either securely deleted, anonymised for statistical use, or archived with restricted access where retention is still required.

• • Information provided when using forms, such as name, contact details, preferred language, and message content about social assistance topics.
• • Information about how visitors move through guides, such as which sections are opened, time spent on pages, and use of navigation links, collected to improve clarity and structure.
• • Records of communications, including emails, form submissions, and related correspondence, along with time stamps and internal notes needed to manage enquiries.
• • Any financial references included in communications, such as descriptions of income sources or housing costs, when voluntarily provided by visitors seeking information or context.
• • High-level information about how visitors arrive at the site, such as referral sources or campaigns, used to understand which messages help seniors and caregivers find relevant guidance.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of data and applicable Canadian legal requirements, particularly for records linked to security or compliance.

International data transfers

Personal data may be processed or stored on servers located outside the province or territory where visitors access the site, and in some cases outside Canada. When such transfers occur, steps are taken to apply safeguards consistent with Canadian expectations, such as contractual protections and careful selection of service providers. Despite these measures, data protection rules in other jurisdictions may differ from those in Canada.

• • Use of hosting providers that offer data centres with recognised security certifications and practices.
• • Implementation of contractual clauses or equivalent safeguards when personal data is processed outside Canada.
• • Careful selection of analytics and communication tools that commit to responsible data handling.
• • Ongoing review of cross-border data flows to align with evolving privacy expectations and regulations.

Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies and similar technologies are used to keep the site secure, remember basic preferences, and understand how visitors use guides about social assistance for seniors. Some cookies are essential for core functions like form submission and consent management. Others support analytics or, where used, limited marketing insights. Detailed information about cookie types, purposes, and control options is provided in the separate cookie policy, which forms part of this privacy explanation.

Most browsers allow cookies to be reviewed, limited, or deleted using built-in settings. Adjusting these options may affect how the site functions, particularly for features that rely on remembering preferences or maintaining sessions. The cookie policy and browser help pages provide further practical guidance.