Canadian Special Investigations Inc.
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
- Our Commitment to Privacy
Canadian Special Investigations is committed to the highest standards of confidentiality and data protection. As a licensed private investigative agency in Canada, we operate under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). We maintain accountability for all personal information under our control and have a designated IT Department which assists in overseeing our compliance.
- Collection of Personal Information
We collect personal information through two distinct channels:
- Direct Submission: Information you provide when inquiring about our services (e.g., name, contact details, payment information).
- Investigative Collection: Information gathered during an investigation for a client. This may include physical descriptions, surveillance footage, social media activity, public record data, and/or witness statements.
- The “Investigative Exemption” (PIPEDA Section 7)
Under Canadian law, we may collect, use, or disclose personal information without the knowledge or consent of the individual under investigation if:
- It is reasonable to expect that collection with knowledge or consent would compromise the availability or accuracy of the information.
- The collection is reasonable for purposes related to investigating a breach of an agreement or a contravention of the laws of Canada or a province.
- The information is required for insurance claim settlements or litigation support.
- Purpose of Use
We use personal information solely for the purposes identified at the time of collection or as permitted by law, including:
- To fulfill contractual investigative mandates for our clients.
- To support legal proceedings or internal corporate investigations.
- To verify identity and prevent fraud.
- No-Go Zone: We do not conduct surveillance using an individual’s own device’s audio or video functions, as mandated by 2026 OPC “no-go” guidelines.
- Retention and Disposal
- Standard Retention: We retain case files only as long as necessary to fulfill the investigative purpose or to meet legal and insurance requirements.
- Minimum Retention: Under 2026 standards, information used to make a decision about an individual is typically retained for at least two years to allow the individual to access it.
- Secure Disposal: Files are destroyed via secure cross-cut shredding or permanent digital wiping once the retention period expires.
- Safeguards
We employ advanced security measures relative to the sensitivity of the data, including:
- Technological: AES-256 encryption for all digital case files and secure multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Physical: Restricted-access facilities and locked, fireproof storage for physical evidence.
- Organizational: Mandatory privacy training for all investigators and strictly enforced “need-to-know” access protocols.
- Individual Access and Rights
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to challenge its accuracy.
- Note on Exemptions: We may refuse access if disclosure would reveal confidential commercial information, threaten the life or security of another individual, or compromise an ongoing investigation.
- 2026 Compliance Updates
- Biometrics: We adhere to the 2026 OPC Guidance on Biometrics, ensuring any use of facial recognition or automated identification is proportional and strictly necessary.
- Mandatory Breach Reporting: In the event of a “real risk of significant harm” resulting from a data breach, we will notify the OPC and affected individuals as soon as feasible.
- Contact Our Privacy Officer
For inquiries, access requests, or to challenge our compliance, please contact:
Privacy Officer: Christopher Dennison / Owner
Address: 1235 Fairview St, Burlington, ON, L7S 2K7
Email: PrivacyPolicy (at) CanadianInvestigations.com
Phone: 1 888 668 7308
