Website Privacy Policy | BC Ombudsman

Content

Website Privacy Policy

1. Scope

This notice applies to our website.

2. Personal Information

We only collect personal information that you choose to give us, such as when you fill out our online complaint form. We will only use the information you provide to help us respond to your complaint.

We do not collect your personal information when you browse or download from our website, although some information, such as your Internet domain name or IP address, may identify you. The extent of personal identification depends, in large part, on the “naming standards” followed by your Internet service provider. You may wish to check their policies and practices in this regard. To the extent that our web server may collect personal information, that information is used only for the operation and security of our website.

3. Using our online complaint form:

If you submit a complaint through our secure online complaint form, the personal information you provide when filling out this form is collected under the authority of the British Columbia Ombudsperson Act. This means that your personal information will be kept and used to determine whether we can investigate your complaint and, if so, to actually do the investigation. The personal information you put on the complaint form falls under the protection of the confidentiality provisions in the British Columbia Ombudsperson Act. The information on the complaint form is not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

4. Uses

If you choose to give us personal information, we only use it for the purposes for which you give it to us.

We do not share your personal information with government agencies or other organizations without your permission unless:

• it is necessary to provide you with a service that you have requested;

• it is required or authorized by law; or

• compelling circumstances exist that affect anyone’s health or safety.

We may analyze non-identifiable web site traffic data to improve our services. We do not use cookies or web bugs. We do not track use of our website by individuals.

5. Your Choices

You can choose whether to give us personal information, as noted above.

6. Important Information

This website is covered by the Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act. Although we try to see that all information posted on our website is accurate and complete, we do not represent that it is so, or guarantee it, and accept no liability or obligation for accuracy or completeness. If there is any discrepancy between information posted on our website and the original paper version, the paper original is the authoritative version.

How to Contact Us

If you have questions about this website or this policy, you can contact us at systems@ombudsman.bc.ca.

NOTE: The above address is for information technology or privacy questions only. It is not for registering complaints about any of the public bodies within our jurisdiction. To register a complaint please go to our complaint section.

You can also contact us at

Office of the Ombudsperson

756 Fort Street
PO Box 9039 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, B.C.  V8W 9A5
Canada