Responding to your privacy concerns

What We Do

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Jennifer Stoddart, is an Agent of Parliament who reports directly to the House of Commons and the Senate. In addition to the Privacy Commissioner, the Office has two Assistant Privacy Commissioners, Heather Black and Raymond D'Aoust. The Office also has an External Advisory Committee, launched in February 2004.

The Commissioner is an advocate for the privacy rights of Canadians. Her powers include:

• investigating complaints and conducting audits under two federal laws;
• publishing information about personal information-handling practices in the public and private sector;
• conducting research into privacy issues; and
• promoting awareness and understanding of privacy issues by the Canadian public.

The Commissioner works independently from any other part of the government to investigate complaints from individuals with respect to the federal public sector and the private sector.

Individuals may complain to the Commissioner about any matter specified in Section 29 of the Privacy Act. This Act applies to personal information held by the Government of Canada.

For matters relating to personal information in the private sector, the Commissioner may investigate complaints under Section 11 of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

As an ombudsman, the Commissioner prefers to resolve complaints through negotiation and persuasion, using mediation and conciliation if appropriate. The Commissioner has the power to summon witnesses, administer oaths and compel the production of evidence if voluntary co-operation is not forthcoming.

Our Organization

Biography of Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Biography of Heather Black, Assistant Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Biography of Raymond D'Aoust, Assistant Privacy Commissioner of Canada

External Advisory Committee