Blue Canyon CPA has a responsibility to protect personal information regarding its clients, proprietor and employees. My firm believes protecting your privacy is important and has developed a privacy policy designed to meet the needs of its clients and employees and conform to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”). This policy covers the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by Blue Canyon CPA.
The Code of Professional Conduct and related Council Interpretations of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada require that the proprietor and staff maintain the confidentiality of client and former client information, as well as the confidentiality of firm information, except in rare and very specific circumstances.
The Code of Professional Conduct of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada also require that the proprietor and staff not use confidential information for personal advantage, for the advantage of a third party or to the disadvantage of a client, former client or the firm, unless consent has been obtained from the client, former client or the Firm.
Personal Information
Personal information includes any factual or subjective information, recorded or not, about an identifiable individual.
This includes information in any form, such as:
- Age, name, ID numbers, income, or ethnic origin;
- Opinions, evaluations, comments, social status, or disciplinary actions; and
- Employee files, credit records, loan records, medical records, existence of a dispute with a client, intentions (for example, to acquire goods or services, or change jobs).
Personal information does not include the name, title, business address or telephone number of an employee of an organization.
Blue Canyon CPA collects personal information only for the following reasons:
To provide the products or services that you have requested and maintain commercial relations with you;
- To understand your needs and recommend products and services accordingly;
- To manage my business which includes partnership and employment matters; and
- To meet legal and regulatory requirements.
We will not use your personal information for any other reason without your consent and will only share your information with third parties to assist in completing the above uses. Any third party’s use must adhere to my privacy policies or be allowed by the legislation. Examples would be an outside payroll service, an agent hired to perform a service for you, a collection agency, a law enforcement agency or emergency services.
“Cookies”
We may from time to time use certain information commonly called cookies on your computer to save you time as a Visitor and User of my website. We do not collect personal information in this fashion. If you do not wish this convenience, your browser will likely enable you to reject cookies.
Accountability
Blue Canyon CPA is accountable for all personal information in its possession, including any personal information disclosed to third parties for processing or other administrative functions.
Blue Canyon CPA has appointed a Privacy Officer, who is part of senior management, to be accountable for the firm’s privacy policies and enforcement. I have also trained my staff on privacy issues.
Blue Canyon CPA’s Privacy Officer can be reached at:
Privacy Officer
Blue Canyon CPA
835 Westney Road South, Unit 3
Ajax, Ontario L1S 3M4
Identifying Purposes
Blue Canyon CPA shall identify the purpose for which personal information is collected before collecting it.
Consent
Blue Canyon CPA shall obtain consent (from clients by means of the engagement letter and from staff) for all personal information collected, used or disclosed by Blue Canyon CPA, unless such collection or use is inappropriate, or permitted by law.
Limiting Collection
Personal information collected shall be limited to information that is necessary for the purposes identified by Blue Canyon CPA and be collected by fair and lawful means.
Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention
Personal information collected by Blue Canyon CPA, shall not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required or permitted by law. Personal information shall be retained only as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.
Accuracy
Personal information shall be as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it is to be used. I will use my best efforts to keep your information up-to-date.
Safeguards
Blue Canyon CPA shall safeguard your information against unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification.
Openness
Blue Canyon CPA shall make information available, to its clients and employees, about the policies and practices that apply to the management of their information.
Individual Access
Upon request, an individual shall be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of their information, and shall be given access to it. An individual will be given reasonable access to their information and may correct any personal information if its accuracy and completeness is challenged and found to be deficient.
Challenging Compliance
An individual shall be able to challenge compliance with the above privacy principles. Blue Canyon CPA shall investigate all complaints in a timely manner.