Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

New federal private sector privacy legislation entitled The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act ("PIPEDA") is about to affect all commercial activities in Canada involving the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. The impact and breadth of PIPEDA is significant and constitutes a new privacy order for the Canadian private sector. You need to understand the scope and obligations of PIPEDA so that you can minimize your exposure to liability. Effective January 1, 2004, PIPEDA will apply to every organization in Canada that collects, uses, or discloses personal information in the course of commercial activities.

What should organizations do to comply? They should draft appropriate privacy policies and procedures, appoint a privacy officer, distribute communications materials regarding privacy law compliance, and develop the necessary personal information management practices to allow for appropriate enforcement of privacy practices.

Additional information regarding PIPEDA can be obtained at the Office of the Privacy Commissioner’s web site at you can also contact our firm should you wish assistance with implementing PIPEDA for your Company.