Your Privacy and Access to Information
This section describes how the Canada Firearms Centre uses Canadian Firearms
Program information and how this information is made accessible.
Statement of Privacy and Access
The Canada Firearms Centre is committed to protecting information collected
to administer the Canadian Firearms Program, and adheres to the spirit and
requirements of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.
Access to Information
Information held by the Canada Firearms Centre (CAFC) is made available under
the Access
to Information Act or the Privacy
Act. Related Policy guidelines are available on the Treasury
Board Website.
On-line Transactions
Use and Disclosure of Program Information
Access to Information
Right of Access
The Access to Information Act allows Canadian citizens, permanent
residents and any person or corporation that resides in Canada the right to
access information under the control of the Government of Canada. This right of
access is in accordance with the principles that government information should
be available to the public that necessary exemptions to the right of access
should be limited, and that decisions on the disclosure of government
information should be reviewed independently of government. Access
to Information Request Form
The Privacy Act provides citizens with the right to access their
personal information held by the Government of Canada and protection of that
information against unauthorized use and disclosure. Personal
Information Request Form
Requesting Access
A fee of $5.00 payable to the Receiver General, by cheque or money order, is
required for requests under the Access to Information Act; however no fee
is required when requesting access to personal information under the Privacy
Act. Please send requests relating to either Act, to:
Coordinator, Office of Access to Information and Privacy
Canada Firearms Centre
50 O'Connor St. 10th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1M6
Advice on how to make information requests is available toll-free, at 1-800
731-4000 Ext:2055. (Please note, this extension is exclusive to Access to
Information and Privacy requests, and is not available for other requests,
such as licencing, registering or transferring of firearms.)
Reporting to Parliament
Annual reports to parliament regarding the administration of the Access to
Information Act and the Privacy Act by the Canada Firearms
Centre will be posted below:
Annual
Report to Parliament 2003-2004: Access to Information Act and Privacy Act -
(PDF 76K)
On-line Transactions
Is My Information Secure?
Information shared with the CAFC on-line is protected while in transit to
ensure confidentiality through state-of-the-art technology. This includes a
128-bit secure socket layer encryption that encodes data during browser to Web
server transmission. Further protection is available for individuals when they
select a personal information number (PIN) and for business clients that use a
business information number (BIN) when accessing their data.
Tracking On-line Activities
The CAFC tracks on-line activities to determine how visitors use our website
and to help us improve navigation and user satisfaction. Tracking occurs through
the application of "session cookies", an IT tool developed for service
monitoring and improvement purposes. You have the option of refusing to accept
this tracking process, in which case you will be unable to complete your
transaction online. Other methods of transaction are available and can be
processed by contacting us at 1 800 731-4000.
Unauthorized Access
Processes are in place to detect attempts at hacking into the Canada Firearms
Information System and prevent them from accessing personal information. The
CAFC continually monitors network traffic on the CAFC website for any possible
attempts of unauthorized access. In addition, security procedures have been
added to the web site to enhance an already secure service.
Use and Disclosure of Program Information
How does the CAFC use information provided on application forms?
Safety training information collected by the Canada Firearms Centre and
federal and provincial Chief Firearms Officers pursuant to the Firearms Act is
used exclusively to determine licence eligibility.
Information provided when applying for a firearms licence or certain
authorizations (e.g. to transfer non-restricted firearms to new owners, to carry
or transport restricted or prohibited firearms) is used exclusively by a Chief
Firearms Officer to determine eligibility for the privilege or activity in
question.
Information provided to register a firearm is used to determine firearms
classification or to issue a firearms certificate. Before a registration
certificate is issued, refused or revoked the Registrar will confirm that the
associated licencee is eligible to possess the specified class of firearm.
Personal information is provided on certain Firearms Program
forms such as names, addresses, and medical information. Where is this
information stored and who can view it?
This information is stored in the Canadian Firearms Information System
(CFIS), a database controlled by the Canada Firearms Centre. The CAFC ensures
strict procedures that allow only those employees with a need consistent with
their duties to view personal information. For example, only a CFO or delegated
firearms officer has authority to collect personal information during the course
of an investigation in determining licence eligibility. Also, police officers
verify firearms information to determine licence status before responding to a
call; however, at no time are they able to view names of references, spouses or
medical information.
Does the CAFC share personal information collected for the
Firearms Program with other agencies or the private sector?
Relevant Firearms Program information is disclosed only to federal and
provincial public safety business partners that have legal authority to collect
this information consistent with their public safety responsibilities. Program
business partners include local and provincial police, the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, the Canada Border Services Agency and International Trade
Canada. The Privacy Act requires that those agencies must have a use
consistent with the purpose for which the information was collected. In turn,
those non-federal agencies to which firearms information is disclosed are bound
by similar requirements under their jurisdictional privacy laws.
Furthermore, firearms information is not shared with any private sector
agencies. Some private companies however, can have access to personal
information while under a contracted arrangement for software administration or
records management procedures. Under the terms of those contracts, these
companies cannot use or disclose information. Also, employees of private
companies are screened for security clearance to ensure that personal
information is protected at the same level as federal requirements.
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