The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) of Alberta will work with two other privacy authorities in Canada on a joint investigation into Certn (Canada) Inc., a company that offers background check services, including tenant screening services to landlords.
Certn is based in Victoria, British Columbia, and offers its services across Canada.
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia launched a joint investigation into Certn in early June. Subsequently, the OIPC of Alberta made the decision to join the investigation, after confirming that there is evidence that Certn’s work includes the collection of the personal information of Albertans.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) will assess Certn’s compliance with the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. The British Columbia Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the OIPC of Alberta will investigate compliance with their respective Personal Information Protection Acts.
The three offices will examine the company’s practices with respect to tenant screening to determine if they are compliant with the consent provisions under those laws. They will also assess whether Certn ensures that the information that it collects, uses, and discloses for the purposes of tenant screening is sufficiently accurate, complete, and up to date; and whether the purposes for which it collects that information are appropriate.
“The joint investigation into Certn is one of the ways that our office continues to work to ensure compliance with Alberta’s privacy and access laws,” said Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod. “Since PIPA was enacted, the OIPC has received complaints alleging the inappropriate collection, use or disclosure of personal information by landlords and questions about what personal information a landlord is permitted to collect for tenant screening. In light of this, last December our office issued new guidance for landlords and tenants on their responsibilities and rights under our privacy and access laws.”
To read the news release issued on June 4, 2024, when the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia first launched their investigation, click here.
To read the guidance for landlords and tenants issued by our office in late 2023, click here.
Through the OIPC, the Information and Privacy Commissioner performs the responsibilities set out in the Personal Information Protection Act, the Health Information Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The Commissioner operates independent of government.
For more information:
Elaine Schiman
Communications Manager
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta
communications@oipc.ab.ca
Mobile: (587) 983-8766