Who to contact about protecting your personal health information

In Canada, personal health information is subject to different federal, provincial or territorial privacy laws. If you have questions or concerns about your personal health data, begin by directly contacting the organization that is handling your data to resolve the issue. If you still have concerns, below you will find useful information to identify which privacy protection authority to contact.

On this page, find who to contact with concerns related to:

• Publicly-funded hospital, long-term care facility or home-care service
• Private long-term care facility
• Private health practitioner
• Federal government institution
• Public health institution
• Health/medical-related charity, voluntary or professional organization, foundation, non-profit or association
• Publicly-funded schools, colleges or universities
• Private schools and daycare facilities
• Employers
• Insurance company
• Not sure if either federal privacy law applies?

Note: This web page is for information purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice.

Publicly-funded hospital, long-term care facility or home-care service

• For privacy concerns, contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority.

Private long-term care facility

For example, a nursing home, retirement residence or home-care service

• If you live in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador: contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority.
• If you live in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Yukon or the Northwest Territories: contact the OPC or contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority.
• If you live in Nunavut: contact the OPC.

Private health practitioner

For example, a family doctor, medical specialist, dentist, pharmacist, chiropractor, psychologist, optometrist, lab or clinic

• If you live in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador: contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority.
• If you live in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, or the Northwest Territories: contact the OPC or contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority.
• If you live in Nunavut: contact the OPC.

Federal government institution

For example, Health Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada or Employment and Social Development Canada

• If you have privacy concerns about a federal government institution, contact the OPC.

Public health institution

• If you have privacy concerns about a municipal, provincial or territorial public health institution, contact your provincial and territorial privacy authority.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada is a federal government institution. If you have privacy concerns, contact the OPC.

Health/medical-related charity, voluntary or professional organization, foundation, non-profit or association

• These kinds of organizations are not subject to federal privacy law unless they are engaged in commercial activity. Fundraising is generally not considered a commercial activity.
• Some provinces and territories have their own laws that address privacy. Contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority to find out if the organization is covered.

Publicly-funded schools, colleges or universities

• If you have privacy concerns, contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority.

Private schools and daycare facilities

• If you live in British Columbia, Alberta or Quebec: contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority.
• If you live in another province or territory: contact the OPC.

Employers

If you work for a:

• Federal government institution, bank, airline or telecommunications company or for an organization in the territories that is regulated by the federal government, contact the OPC.
• Municipal, provincial or territorial government institution, contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority.
• Business in British Columbia, Alberta or Quebec, contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority.

Insurance company

• If you live in British Columbia, Alberta or Quebec: contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority.
• If you live in another province or territory: contact the OPC.

Not sure if either federal privacy law applies?

• If you are not sure if either of Canada’s federal privacy laws would apply to your situation, contact the OPC’s Information Centre for help.
• If neither the OPC, nor provincial/territorial privacy protection authorities can assist you, you may wish to seek legal counsel.