Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (S.C. 2000, c. 5)

Marginal note:Purpose

3. The purpose of this Part is to establish, in an era in which technology increasingly facilitates the circulation and exchange of information, rules to govern the collection, use and disclosure of personal information in a manner that recognizes the right of privacy of individuals with respect to their personal information and the need of organizations to collect, use or disclose personal information for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances.

Marginal note:Application

• 4. (1) This Part applies to every organization in respect of personal information that

  • (a) the organization collects, uses or discloses in the course of commercial activities; or

  • (b) is about an employee of the organization and that the organization collects, uses or discloses in connection with the operation of a federal work, undertaking or business.

• Marginal note:Limit

  (2) This Part does not apply to

  • (a) any government institution to which the Privacy Act applies;

  • (b) any individual in respect of personal information that the individual collects, uses or discloses for personal or domestic purposes and does not collect, use or disclose for any other purpose; or

  • (c) any organization in respect of personal information that the organization collects, uses or discloses for journalistic, artistic or literary purposes and does not collect, use or disclose for any other purpose.

• Marginal note:Other Acts

  Footnote ^*(3) Every provision of this Part applies despite any provision, enacted after this subsection comes into force, of any other Act of Parliament, unless the other Act expressly declares that that provision operates despite the provision of this Part.

  • Return to footnote ^*[Note: Subsection 4(3) in force January 1, 2001, see SI/2000-29.]

Marginal note:Certificate under Canada Evidence Act

• 4.1 (1) Where a certificate under section 38.13 of the Canada Evidence Act prohibiting the disclosure of personal information of a specific individual is issued before a complaint is filed by that individual under this Part in respect of a request for access to that information, the provisions of this Part respecting that individual’s right of access to his or her personal information do not apply to the information that is subject to the certificate.

• Marginal note:Certificate following filing of complaint

  (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Part, where a certificate under section 38.13 of the Canada Evidence Act prohibiting the disclosure of personal information of a specific individual is issued after the filing of a complaint under this Part in relation to a request for access to that information:

  • (a) all proceedings under this Part in respect of that information, including an investigation, audit, appeal or judicial review, are discontinued;

  • (b) the Commissioner shall not disclose the information and shall take all necessary precautions to prevent its disclosure; and

  • (c) the Commissioner shall, within 10 days after the certificate is published in the Canada Gazette, return the information to the organization that provided the information.

• Marginal note:Information not to be disclosed

  (3) The Commissioner and every person acting on behalf or under the direction of the Commissioner, in carrying out their functions under this Part, shall not disclose information subject to a certificate issued under section 38.13 of the Canada Evidence Act, and shall take every reasonable precaution to avoid the disclosure of that information.

• Marginal note:Power to delegate

  (4) The Commissioner may not delegate the investigation of any complaint relating to information subject to a certificate issued under section 38.13 of the Canada Evidence Act except to one of a maximum of four officers or employees of the Commissioner specifically designated by the Commissioner for the purpose of conducting that investigation.