Alberta joins joint investigation into tenant screening service
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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 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) says it will assess Certn’s compliance with the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. The British Columbia OIPC and the OIPC of Alberta are also expected to investigate compliance with their respective Personal Information Protection Acts.
“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.”
