Privacy Policy
Last Updated: 2024
1. Data Controller and Operator
This website is operated by Soft Barnwood, a company providing educational resources and economic data regarding the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) in Canada. In the context of data protection legislation, Soft Barnwood acts as the "Organization" or "Data Controller" responsible for your personal information collected through this platform.
Our primary mission is to assist residents of Edmonton and the broader Canadian market in understanding the fiscal benefits of the FHSA. In doing so, we prioritize the protection of your digital privacy.
2. Applicable Legal Framework
As we operate out of Edmonton, Alberta, our data processing activities are governed by the following statutes:
- Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA): The provincial legislation of Alberta governing how private sector organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information.
- Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA): The federal Canadian law applicable to commercial activities involving cross-border data flows.
- CASL (Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation): Governing our electronic communications with you.
3. Information We Collect
We collect information that identifies you or can be used to identify you ("Personal Information"). This includes:
A. Information Provided Voluntarily
- Identity Data: Full name, age, and residency status (to determine FHSA eligibility).
- Contact Data: Email address, phone number, and mailing address provided via contact forms or newsletter subscriptions.
- Financial Profile: Non-sensitive data regarding your home-buying timeline and savings goals.
B. Automated Data Collection
- Technical Data: IP address, browser type, time zone settings, and operating system.
- Usage Data: Information about how you navigate our site, including pages viewed and links clicked (e.g., visits to our Edmonton market data).
- Cookies: We use cookies to enhance user experience. Detailed information can be found in our Cookie Policy.
4. Purpose of Data Processing
Soft Barnwood processes your data for the following specific purposes:
- To provide tailored information regarding FHSA eligibility and contribution rules.
- To respond to inquiries submitted through our web forms.
- To analyze website traffic and optimize our content for the Edmonton real estate community.
- To ensure the security of our website and prevent fraudulent activities.
- To comply with Canadian tax reporting guidelines where applicable.
5. Legal Basis for Processing
Under PIPA and PIPEDA, we process your data based on:
- Consent: When you voluntarily provide your email to receive our FHSA guides.
- Contractual Necessity: When processing is required to provide a service you requested.
- Legitimate Interest: For improving our website's performance and providing relevant economic insights about the Edmonton housing market.
- Legal Obligation: When required by Canadian law or court order.
6. Data Retention
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Typically, contact information for inquiries is kept for 24 months unless a longer period is required by law.
7. Third-Party Transfers and Security
We do not sell your personal information. However, we may share data with:
- Service Providers: IT hosting services, analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics), and email marketing platforms.
- Professional Advisors: Lawyers or auditors in Edmonton who assist in our business operations.
- Regulatory Bodies: When required by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or other government entities.
All third parties are required to respect the security of your personal data and treat it in accordance with the law.
8. Your Legal Rights
As a resident of Alberta, you have specific rights regarding your data:
- Right of Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Right to Correction: You may request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent for marketing communications at any time.
- Right to Complain: You have the right to contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC) if you believe your rights have been violated.
9. Contact Information
To exercise your rights or ask questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact our Privacy Officer:
Soft Barnwood Privacy Department
Address: 10405 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, AB T5J 3N4
Phone: +1 (391) 759-2908
Email: