WEB PRIVACY STATEMENT
OVERVIEW
Most of the information accessible on the Region's website does not require you to identify yourself at all. You may access it anonymously. However, the Region of Waterloo does collect personal information about you when you choose to provide it. We endeavour to collect only as much personal information as is absolutely necessary to assist you in conducting business with the Region via the website.
The Region of Waterloo endeavours to provide you with multiple service "channels" for conducting Region business (e.g. walk-in, mail-in, fax-in, phone-in, etc.) in addition to the Web. If at any time you have concerns about using the web channel to conduct your Region business, you can rest assured that we will always provide you with an alternative (traditional) service channel as an option.
Purposes for Which We Collect Personal Information
We collect and retain personal information for the following purposes:
- To process your requests for services, products or further information
- To communicate with you regarding services or products that you have requested
- To identify you if you have a query or concern about the service or product that you have requested
- To advise you about changes to our web service offerings and of service interruptions
- To meet legal and regulatory requirements
Use and Disclosure of Personal Information
The Region of Waterloo is the sole owner of the information collected on its site. We do not use or retain personal information that you provide to us for any secondary purposes unless we clearly notify you and gain your permission first. We will not sell, share, rent or otherwise disclose your personal information to any organization or individual outside the Region of Waterloo unless we first notify you and ask your permission.
We use IP addresses to analyze trends, administer the site, track clients' movements, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses are not linked to personally identifiable information. We may occasionally report aggregated demographic information in the form of reports and statistics but this is not linked to any personal information that can be used to identify any individual person.
From time-to-time our site may request information from you via surveys. Participation in these surveys is completely voluntary and you have a choice of whether or not to disclose the information requested. Survey information will be used solely for the purposes of monitoring and/or improving the use and satisfaction of this site. If you choose not to participate in surveys, you will still be able to use our site or request services or products from us.
Protection of Personal Information
The Region of Waterloo takes every precaution to protect your personal information on the Internet. We protect your account information by requiring you to enter a unique Login ID and Password each time you want to access your account information. Your Password should never be shared with anyone.
Questions about the collection of personal information should be directed to the Region's Access, Research & Special Projects Officer. Email, phone and mail addresses can be found under Exceptions below.
The Region uses SSL encryption technology on some sub-systems (online employment application) to protect personal information during transmission. A security icon will appear in your browser window to indicate that you are using a secure site.
If you have any questions or concerns about the security at our website, you can send an email to:rnigel@region.waterloo.on.ca.
Exceptions
There may be certain exceptions to the Region's Privacy Statement. Any and all exceptions will be CLEARLY identified at the moment that information is being gathered.
For more information, or if you have questions or concerns, please contact the Region's Access, Research & Special Projects Officer:
By email at: bgeoff@region.waterloo.on.ca
By telephone at: 519-575-4492 or
By mail at: Access, Research & Special Projects Officer, Council and Administrative Services, Region of Waterloo, 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener, Ontario N2G 4J3
Notification of Changes to the Privacy Statement
If we decide to change our privacy statement, we will post those changes on the Region's home page so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under which circumstances, if any, we disclose it.
Links to Other Websites
The Region's website contains links to other sites (eg. community links, business links, etc.). Please be aware that the Region of Waterloo cannot be held responsible for the privacy practices of other sites. When you leave our site, we encourage you to read the privacy statement of each and every website that you visit before you provide any personal information. The Region's privacy statement applies solely to information collected on the Region's website.
DISCUSSION FORUMS
The Region of Waterloo's website utilizes discussion forums. Discussion forums are a place for citizens to participate in Municipal Government, by expressing their opinions & viewpoints and to allow others to respond. Forums are NOT meant to be an interactive discussion (chat) with Region employees. If participants would like Region staff to answer specific questions, please use the Contact Us web page.
Discussion Forum Guidelines:
While The Region of Waterloo is committed to the concept of free speech, that speech should, at all times, be responsible, free of insults, and respectful of others. Participants in discussions must not:
- Defame, abuse, harass or threaten others;
- Make any bigoted, hateful or racially offensive statements;
- Advocate illegal activity or discuss illegal activities with the intent to commit them;
- Post or distribute any material that infringes and/or violates any right of a third party or any law;
- Post or distribute any vulgar, obscene, discourteous or indecent language or images;
- Advertise, sell to or solicit others;
- Use the online discussion groups for commercial purposes of any kind;
- Post or distribute any software or other materials that contain a virus or other harmful component;
- Post material or make statements that do not generally pertain to the designated topic or theme of the discussion group; or
- Impersonate other participants or public figures.