Pardons Canada Privacy Policy

1. Collection, Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

• Collection of personal information only extends to information needed to collect and remove the individual’s criminal record, or for an application for advanced permission to enter the US.
• Disclosure of the personal information is only made to government bodies and agencies which are required to collect or remove the criminal record, or in making an application for advanced permission to enter the US (or on occasion to an individual or body designated by the individual, such as Immigration Canada or an Employer)

2. What Information we collect

Information collected is necessary for the removal the individual’s criminal record or for their application for advance permission to enter the US, and may include: name, address, telephone number, date of birth, place of birth, immigration status, fingerprints, court records, local police, OPP, RCMP, and FBI records, driver’s licence number, employer information, and so on.

3. Consent

The individual’s knowledge of and consent to Pardons Canada’s collection, use and disclosure of personal information is critical. Pardons Canada relies on the following actions by the individuals as indications of their consent to our existing and future personal information practices:

• The individual’s voluntary provision of personal information to us directly,
• The individual’s express consent and acknowledgement contained within our written authorization agreements and application forms,
• The individual’s express written consent to have her/his certified RCMP criminal record report and fingerprints forwarded to us from the RCMP,
• The individual’s verbal and written consent for any further information needed to remove their criminal record or for an application for advanced permission to enter the US.

4. Limiting Collection and Retention of Personal Information

• Personal Information collected is not used for any purpose other than that for which it was collected.
• Once the purpose for which the personal information was collected is achieved, the individual’s hard copy and electronic files are destroyed.
• If an individual does not comply with a request that we have sent to them and fails to contact us for a period of 18 months,  the individual’s hard copy and electronic files are destroyed.

5. Safeguards

• We have in place physical, electronic and procedural safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information we maintain regarding individual applicants. Pardons Canada’s systems forbid the transfer or disclosure of any personal information other than what is needed to accomplish the results for which the information was collected.
• Personal information held electronically is held on computers that are only connected internally. There is no hub that would allow access through the Internet.

6. Accuracy, Accountability, Openness and Applicant Access

An individual, upon request, shall be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of his or her Personal Information and shall be given access to that information.

Our knowledge about changes to some of the individual’s Personal Information, such as telephone number, address and any new criminal involvement may be key to providing continued services and communication with the individual.

A copy of this Privacy Policy can be accessed through our website at www. pardons.org. Pardons Canada is responsible for all Personal Information under its control and has designated a Chief Privacy Officer who is accountable to the Board of Directors for Pardons Canada’s compliance with this Privacy Policy.

7. Provide Recourse

If an individual has a privacy issue complaint, she or he may telephone us at (416) 929-6011 or write to us at 1376 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M5R 3J1. We will take appropriate measures to rectify privacy issue problems on a case by case basis, should any ever arise.