The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act ("PIPED Act")

The law gives individuals the right to see and ask for corrections to information an organization may have collected about them. Since the beginning of 2001, the Act applies to personal information about customers or employees that is collected, used or disclosed by the federally regulated sector in the course of commercial activities.

It also applies to information sold across provincial and territorial boundaries. As of January 1, 2002, the personal health information collected, used or disclosed by these organizations is also covered.

As of January 1, 2004, the Act will cover the collection, use or disclosure of personal information in the course of any commercial activity within a province, including provincially regulated organizations.  The federal government may exempt organizations or activities in provinces that have their own privacy laws if they are substantially similar to the federal law.

For more information follow this link to the web site of The Privacy Commissioner of Canada.