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Privacy Overview

The University of Winnipeg is committed to the protection of privacy and strives to be in compliance with applicable legislation concerning the collection, use, disclosure, retention, disposition, and security of personal information and personal health information.

Privacy is recognized as a fundamental human right and is protected implicitly under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But what does privacy actually mean?

Most definitions of privacy include two individual rights:

  • The right to be free from unnecessary observation and disturbance, also known as the “right to be let alone.”
  • The right to control how others collect, use, and disclose information about you, also known as “informational privacy.”

Combining these two rights, a concise definition of privacy might be "the right to be free from undue observation and to control how one's information is used by others."

Manitoba, like all provinces in Canada, has created special legislation intended to protect the privacy of individuals. The two main pieces of provincial privacy legislation that apply to the University are The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, known as FIPPA, and The Personal Health Information Act, known as PHIA. These laws apply to various public bodies in Manitoba, including all colleges and universities.

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act establishes requirements governing the University's collection, use, disclosure, and protection of personal information.

The Personal Health Information Act establishes requirements governing the University's collection, use, disclosure, and protection of personal health information.

The University's Privacy Policy enhances compliance with applicable privacy legislation and promotes good practice as regards the handling of personal information and personal health information.