23. Privacy

The Department collects personal information to render decisions on claims for benefits under the Employment Insurance Act and is accountable for safeguarding this information in accordance with the Government Security Policy, the Privacy Act and its Regulations and the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act. Personal information, such as relationships, health issues, financial status or Social Insurance Number, that is contained in the appeal docket and divulged at the hearing must be safeguarded from disclosure.

Members and chairpersons of Boards of Referees are required to sign the Employment Insurance Boards of Referees Undertaking containing specific clauses dealing with the safeguarding of personal information and the rules to be followed.

Prior to appointment, chairpersons and members must agree to comply with the privacy requirements, which are as follows:

• to act with discretion by not discussing cases outside the boardroom;
• to refrain from any disclosure to any other person or organization;
• to use the information only for the purposes of the appeal to the Board of Referees;
• to always safeguard the appeal dockets in their possession and return them to the Board Assistant for shredding at the end of the day's session.

The same privacy considerations apply to computer access and electronic documents under the control of a Board member.