Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose and safeguard personal information when you use this informational website about agricultural business in Canada. The policy applies to information you provide directly through forms or emails and to technical data collected automatically when you visit the site. The site is intended as a neutral, educational resource and does not operate advertising or third-party remarketing networks. The contact details and office address provided on this site are for enquiries about the informational content. If you require program-specific or regulatory advice, you should consult the appropriate federal or provincial agency or a qualified professional. By using this site, you consent to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please refrain from submitting personal data through the site and use the publicly available resources listed on the Resources page for direct agency contacts.
Information we collect
We collect information you provide when you contact us or submit the enquiry form. This may include your name, email address, phone number (optional), organization or affiliation, and the content of your enquiry. The form captures only what you enter and does not request sensitive personal data. In addition to user-provided information, we collect technical and usage data automatically when you visit pages. Technical data may include your IP address, browser type and version, device identifiers, pages visited, time on page and referral source. This information is collected to operate the site reliably, to understand general usage patterns and to improve content and accessibility. We do not combine technical analytics data with form-submitted personal data for marketing purposes. Where we store submissions, identifiers help us respond to enquiries and maintain minimal records for the purpose of providing factual clarifications. We do not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 16; if such information is unintentionally submitted, contact details in the footer may be used to request removal.
How we use personal information
Personal information submitted via the enquiry form is used to respond to requests for factual clarification, references to public sources, or corrections to site content. We may use your name and email to correspond about your enquiry and to provide guidance toward authoritative public documents or agency contacts. Technical and usage data help maintain and secure the site, monitor performance, and identify accessibility improvements. We do not use collected contact details for advertising or targeted marketing. Where aggregated data summaries are produced for internal review, these summaries do not identify individuals. We may retain minimal records of enquiries to track factual corrections, manage follow-ups and ensure quality of responses. If you request deletion or correction of your enquiry data, see the "Your rights" section below for the process and timeframes. Exceptional disclosures may be made if required by law or to protect the rights, property or safety of the site and others, but any such disclosures are limited to the minimum information necessary and handled in accordance with applicable legal obligations.
Cookies and similar technologies
The site uses minimal cookies and similar technologies to support essential functionality and to improve user experience. Functional cookies support navigation, language and accessibility preferences. Performance cookies may collect anonymized usage data to help us understand how pages are used and to improve content structure; these cookies do not identify individuals. This informational site does not deploy advertising or third-party tracking cookies that profile users across websites. You can manage cookie preferences using the consent controls presented on the site. Browser settings also allow you to block or delete cookies; if cookies are disabled some features may not operate as intended. The cookie consent bottom-right panel allows explicit acceptance or rejection of non-essential cookies. Information about consent choices is stored locally in your browser so the site does not repeatedly request the same preference. For technical reasons, server logs may still capture minimal connection metadata (for example, originating IP and timestamp) necessary for basic security and troubleshooting. Such metadata is treated consistently with the retention and access rules described below.
Sharing, disclosure and transfers
We do not sell or lease personal information to third parties. Personal data submitted through the enquiry form is shared only with staff who handle content inquiries and factual clarifications. When a question requires referral to a federal or provincial agency, we may with your consent forward the enquiry details to an appropriate public contact or provide you with agency contact information so you can engage directly. We may disclose personal information when required by law, to respond to legal process, or to protect the rights, safety or property of the site and its users. Aggregated, de-identified usage reports may be generated for internal and operational purposes; these reports do not identify individuals. If any processing by third-party service providers is necessary (for example, secure hosting or archived storage), we use processors that implement security measures and operate under contractual obligations to restrict use to specified purposes. Where data is transferred outside Canada for operational reasons, we take reasonable steps to ensure recipients provide legal protections consistent with applicable data protection expectations and that transfers comply with relevant legal requirements. Specific transfer mechanisms and safeguards depend on the recipient and are documented on request via the contact information below.
Data security, retention and deletion
We implement administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction. Measures include restricted access for staff with a legitimate need to process enquiries, encrypted transmission for form submissions, secure hosting practices and regular maintenance to reduce vulnerabilities. While we take reasonable steps to secure data, no system is completely secure and absolute guarantees cannot be provided. We retain personal enquiry records only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described above, to comply with legal obligations, or to resolve disputes. Typical retention for enquiry records is limited to a period consistent with operational needs, generally not exceeding two years unless an ongoing matter requires longer retention. You may request deletion or correction of your personal data; see the "Your rights" section for how to submit such requests. Where deletion would conflict with legal or administrative obligations, we will notify you and retain only the minimum information required by law.
Your rights and choices
Depending on applicable law, you may have rights regarding personal information we hold about you. Common rights include access to the data we hold, correction of inaccurate information, deletion (where not required to be retained by law), restriction of processing, and in some cases portability of data you provided directly. To exercise these rights, contact us using the contact details below and provide sufficient information to locate the records (for example, the email address used when submitting an enquiry and approximate date). We will verify your identity before fulfilling requests to protect privacy and security. We aim to respond to requests within a reasonable timeframe consistent with legal requirements; where we cannot comply fully we will explain the reasons. If you have concerns about our handling of personal information, you may also lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority in your jurisdiction. For Canadian residents, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada is an available body for federal privacy matters; consult the Resources page for agency contacts and guidance on making a complaint to the appropriate oversight body.
Changes to this Privacy Policy and contact information
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in practices or legal requirements. Material changes will be indicated by revising the effective date and, where appropriate, notifying users through a site banner or notice. For enquiries about this policy, to request access, correction or deletion of personal data, or to raise privacy concerns, use the contact details below. Office address: 150 Slater Street, Suite 200, Ottawa, ON K1P 5H9, Canada. Telephone: +1 (613) 555-0145. Email: [email protected]. When contacting us, describe your request and provide relevant identifiers so we can respond efficiently. For program-specific or regulatory queries you should consult the Resources page to locate the correct federal or provincial authority. Thank you for reviewing our privacy practices. We are committed to handling personal information responsibly and to providing clear guidance about how we manage data associated with this informational site.