Life Sciences Ontario (“LSO”) is committed to protecting the personal information of its members and other persons that it collects throughout it’s business processes and the Life Sciences Ontario Scholarship Program in a manner which is consistent with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”) and other applicable laws and regulations governing collection, use and disclosure of personal information (together “Privacy Laws”). “Personal Information” throughout this Privacy Policy means any identifiable information about an individual.
LSO’s privacy practices are consistent with the 10 guiding principles of PIPEDA and are as follows:
1. Accountability: We have appointed a Privacy Officer to ensure compliance with our Privacy Policy. The name and address of the Privacy Officer is noted at the bottom of page two.
2. Identifying Purposes: LSO will use the Personal Information for the following purposes:
- To protect the legal interests of LSO and its members;
- To develop and implement LSO member programs;
- To offer LSO members with certain benefits and considerations that may from time to time become available to them;
- To communicate with LSO members and other non-member individuals and/or companies who may be interested in receiving information on the ongoing activities, and programs of LSO;
- To provide LSO members and other interested parties with LSO Newsletter;
- To communicate with LSO members and non-members regarding upcoming conference/event/session plans or activities;
- To communicate with non-member attendees at conferences/events/sessions to apprise them of the benefits and advantages associated with LSO membership.
Except as permitted by law, LSO will obtain your consent if we collect, use or disclose your Personal Information for purposes other than the ones outlined above.
3. Consent: Your provision of Personal Information to LSO means that you agree and consent that we may collect, use and disclose your Personal Information in accordance with this policy.
4. Limiting Collection: We will not collect your Personal Information for purposes other than those identified above without your consent or except as provided for and in accordance with Privacy Laws.
5. Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention: Except as provided in this policy, LSO does not sell, rent or lease Personal Information to any third parties. LSO requires all of its third party agents to adhere to strict privacy and security standards. From time to time, LSO may partner with other organizations in order to provide our members with other benefits and services. If you do not wish your personal information to be given to such partnering organizations, please inform the Privacy Officer, in writing, of your request to be removed from such lists. If required by law, LSO will disclose the Personal Information that it is obligated to disclose as a result of a valid legal enquiry or order.
6. Accuracy: LSO is committed to ensuring to the best of their ability that your Personal Information is as up-to-date, accurate and complete as necessary for the purposes for which LSO uses that data. You can correct any Personal Information which is inaccurate, incomplete or out-of-date by sending a written request to our Privacy Officer.
7. Safeguards: LSO uses technical and organizational security measures in order to protect the Personal Information we have under our control against accidental or intentional manipulation, loss, destruction or against access by unauthorized persons. Only trained and essential LSO employees, consultants or their agents have access to Personal Information. LSO’s security procedures are continually enhanced as new technology becomes available; however, we cannot absolutely guarantee that the information submitted, maintained or transmitted by electronic means will be completely secure.
8. Openness: If you have questions about the collection, use or disclosure of your Personal Information by LSO you may contact our Privacy Officer. Requests for access should be made in writing to the attention of the Privacy Officer at the address below. Files containing personal information are physically stored at LSO’s Office identified below, and may additionally be stored at an off-site storage facility. Electronic files are stored on a computer server resident at LSO’s office located at 350 Bay Street, Suite 700, Toronto, ON M5H 2S6.
9. Access: LSO will respond to requests for access in accordance with applicable Privacy Laws. You may request access to your Personal Information at any time by submitting a written request to our Privacy Officer. LSO will require a fee in order to respond to an access request, such fee to be set from time to time by the National Office. LSO will only refuse access to Personal Information in those circumstances permitted or required by applicable Privacy Laws. If LSO refuses access, it will provide the reasons for its refusal.
10. Challenging Compliance: If you are dissatisfied with LSO’s handling of Personal Information, you may make a written complaint to the Privacy Officer. The Privacy Officer will investigate the matter and take corrective action where necessary. The Privacy Officer will report back to you and advise you of any steps taken to correct the problem. If you are still dissatisfied with the response from LSO, you may make a written complaint to the federal or provincial Privacy Commissioner (where applicable).
Privacy Officer:
e-mail: brian@lifesciencesontario.ca
Mail: LSO Privacy Officer, 350 Bay Street, Suite 700, Toronto, ON M5H 2S6.
