By visiting this website and other websites under the CAPE umbrella you are accepting and consenting to the practices described in this privacy policy. We use third-parties, such as Google Analytics, to better understand interactions with our websites. To learn how Google uses data when you use our sites, visit  https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.

CAPE is committed to safeguarding the personal information entrusted to us by our members, donors, and supporters. We manage your personal information in accordance with the privacy laws in Canada, Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation, and other applicable laws. This policy outlines the principles and practices we follow in protecting your personal information.

This policy applies to CAPE and any person providing services on our behalf.  A copy of this policy is provided to any member or donor on request.

What is personal information?

Personal information means information about an identifiable individual. This includes an individual’s name, email address, home address, phone number, age, gender, marital or family status, and financial information including any bank account and/or credit card information, and identification number.

What personal information do we collect?

We collect only the personal information that we need for the purposes of providing services or responses to our members and/or donors, including personal information needed:

• To provide tax receipts and other relevant correspondence related to a donation;
• To inform members and donors about CAPE’s research, education, advocacy, and organizational efforts;
• To keep members and donors informed about news related to the environment and health;
• To solicit donations needed to continue our work where consent has been provided; and
• For petitions or advocacy.

We normally collect personal information directly from our members. We may collect your information from other persons with your consent or as authorized by law.

We inform our members before or at the time of collecting personal information, of the purposes for which we are collecting the information. The only time we don’t provide this notification is when a member volunteers information for an obvious purpose (for example, producing a credit card to pay a donation when the information will be used only to process the payment).

Consent

We ask for consent to collect, use, and disclose members’, donors’, and supporters’ personal information, except in specific circumstances where collection, use, or disclosure without consent is authorized or required by law. We may assume your consent in cases where you volunteer information for an obvious purpose.

We assume your consent to continue to use and, where applicable, disclose personal information that we have already collected, for the purpose for which the information was collected.

A member, donor, or supporter may withdraw consent to the use and disclosure of personal information at any time, unless the personal information is necessary for us to fulfil our legal obligations. We may collect, use, or disclose personal information without consent only as authorized by law. For example, we may not request consent when the collection, use, or disclosure is in relation to an emergency that threatens life, health, or safety.

Implied consent

Implied consent is when we use personal information in a way that is directly and obviously related to the reason the information was originally provided to us. For example, when someone makes a donation, we will use their personal information to send them a thank you letter and tax receipt, as well as our newsletters and annual reports to show the impact that their gift is making. Similarly, when someone contacts us with an environmental concern, we will use that person’s personal information to communicate with them and prepare research or work on their behalf.

We do not sell or exchange email addresses with other organizations.

Opt-in or express consent to receive electronic communications

By signing up for electronic communications, a person has opted in to email and, if applicable, online community (social media) updates, which include breaking news, newsletters, and commercial materials. There is no expiry on the consent, unless an individual opts out, or unsubscribes.

How do we safeguard personal information?

We make every reasonable effort to ensure that personal information is accurate and complete. We rely on individuals to notify us if there is a change in their personal information that may affect their relationship with our organization. If you are aware of an error in the personal information that we have on file for you, please let us know and we will correct it on request wherever possible. In some cases we may ask for a written request for correction.

We protect personal information in a manner appropriate for the sensitivity of the information. We make every reasonable effort to prevent any loss, misuse, disclosure, or modification of personal information, as well as any unauthorized access to personal information.

We use appropriate security measures when destroying personal information, including shredding paper records and permanently deleting electronic records.

We retain personal information only as long as is reasonable to fulfil the purposes for which the information was collected or for legal or business purposes.

Access to records containing personal information

Individuals have a right to access their own personal information in a record that is in the custody or under the control of CAPE, subject to some exceptions. For example, organizations are required to refuse access to information that would reveal personal information about another individual.

If we refuse a request in whole or in part, we will provide the reasons for the refusal. In some cases where exceptions to access apply, we may withhold that information and provide you with the remainder of the record.

You may make a request for access to your personal information by writing to us at info@cape.ca. You must provide sufficient information in your request to allow us to identify the information you are seeking.

You may also request information about our use of your personal information and any disclosure of that information to persons outside of our organization. In addition, you may request a correction or deletion in your personal information. We will respond to your request within 14 calendar days, unless an extension is granted. 

If you have a question or concern about any collection, use, or disclosure of personal information by CAPE or about a request for access to your own personal information, please contact us at info@cape.ca or 647-952-4525.