This privacy statement informs you of the personal information that may be collected from you when visiting the Public Guardian and Trustee (“PGT”) website and how that information may be used.

Confidentiality.  All personal information provided to the PGT through our website or by other methods is considered confidential and is protected by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) and other legislation. 

Protection of referral sources.  The Public Guardian and Trustee Act requires us to not disclose the identity of a person who makes a report resulting in an investigation or audit by the PGT. This means your identity will be protected if you make a report to us regarding a vulnerable person who may need our assistance, whether you report through our website or otherwise.

Collection and use of information. The PGT collects personal information only as required to serve clients and to meet our statutory obligations.  We use personal information for the purpose for which it was collected or for uses consistent with that purpose.  Access to personal information within the PGT is role-based and restricted to persons with a work-related reason to see that information.

Notification to you.  Certain services available through our website, including our online forms, provide direct notice of the reasons for collecting personal information, the authority for that collection, and whom you can contact with any questions about our handling of your personal information.

Safeguards to personal information.  The PGT has made security arrangements against unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure or disposal of personal information in accordance with FOIPPA. Security and privacy measures are integrated into our website, and of all our information systems. 

Web traffic information collected. The PGT uses a third party web analytics program to collect information about traffic to our website. Website analytics allows us to understand general usage patterns with the goal of improving website performance and effectiveness.

The web analytics program uses small files called “cookies” that your web browser stores on your computer.  Cookies that we use apply a unique identifier and do not capture any identifying information about you such as your name or IP address.  Our website still works if you choose to opt out of cookies.

External website links.  The PGT’s website may include links to external websites. Once you leave our website, this privacy statement does not apply.  The PGT is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites.

Access to and correction of information. You can ask to review any personal information about you that we hold by submitting a Freedom of Information request to the PGT. You may also request changes or corrections to your personal information that you believe may be inaccurate by submitting a request describing the error to mail@trustee.bc.ca.

Changes to our privacy statement. From time to time, we will review and revise our privacy statement and may do so without advance notice to you.  Please review our privacy statement regularly when using our website in order to remain current on its terms.

Contact us. If you have any questions about this privacy statement, or about how personal information is handled by the PGT, please contact us at 604-660-4444 or mail@trustee.bc.ca