Contributions Program 2005-2006

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) has officially launched its second annual $200,000 Contributions Program, which will capitalize on existing research capacity in academic, not-for-profit and other sectors to generate new knowledge and to support the development of expertise in selected areas of privacy and data protection.

Under this year's Program, the OPC hopes to encourage the development of a national privacy research capacity that will increase awareness and understanding among individuals and organizations of their privacy rights and obligations. We also hope to foster an understanding of the social value of privacy to address emerging issues and opportunities.

There are three priorities for this Program for which we are encouraging the submission of research proposals:

• Issues related to the upcoming Parliamentary review of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, including, but not necessarily limited to:
  • the scope of the Act;
  • oversight models;
  • the consent provisions;
  • transborder data flows;
  • identifying purposes; and
  • investigative activities.
• Workplace privacy — for example, issues related to workplace monitoring, the use of technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID) or location devices to track employees and, more generally, the application of Canadian privacy legislation to employee personal information.
• The collection, use and disclosure of DNA samples by the private sector for a variety of purposes, including analysis services available to the public.

Organizations that are eligible for funding under the Program include not-for profit organizations, including education institution and industry and trade associations, as well as consumer, voluntary and advocacy organizations.

The maximum amount that can be awarded for any single research project is $50,000. Organizations are eligible to receive funding for only one project.

Projects must be completed within the fiscal year in which the funding was provided. The deadline to submit applications is August 19, 2005.

Links to the projects completed under the 2004-2005 Contributions Program will be available shortly on the OPC's Web site.

• For more information, consult our Applicant's Guide. (Print format in PDF)
• Application Form (Print format in PDF).
• Schedule B (Print format in PDF).
• Schedule C (Print format in PDF).
• View our news release officially launching the Contributions Program.