Privacy Policy

Introduction

The protection of personal information is important to Apeetogosan (Métis) Development Inc. (AMDI) and this is the policy and procedures for dealing with the protection of privacy. Any questions about this policy can be directed to Office Manager, who is AMDI’s Privacy Officer.

Our employees play an important role in protecting personal information. Our employees are required to adhere to this policy and take all reasonable steps to ensure that personal information is protected from unauthorized access.

1.0 COLLECTION, USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

In general, we collect and use information about our borrowing clients as well as customers requiring business development services. Except as described herein, we do not sell, rent or otherwise share or disclose our customer’s private, personally identifiable information to third parties. We collect the personal information of our individual customers in order to facilitate the loan application process. When dealing with these individual customers we collect the following types of personal information:

  • Customer Name;

  • Customer address and telephone number;

  • Customer personal references;

  • Customer Social Insurance Number;

  • Customer Birth Date;

  • Customer personal and business credit references;

  • Customer Indigenous Ancestry;

  • Customer employment status;

  • Customer family status; and

  • Customer marital status.

The personal information is collected for the following purposes:

  • Requesting a credit bureau report;

  • Requesting confirmation of personal business credit references;

  • Confirmation of Indigenous Ancestry;

  • Ensuring that the individual making the application is the same individual we are receiving credit information on; and

  • Billing information.

We only collect personal information directly from the customer except when we have the customer’s consent to collect information from elsewhere or are permitted by law to collect it without the customer’s consent.

We only use a customer’s personal information for the purposes outlined above. If we need to use the personal information for any other purpose we will contact the customer and obtain consent prior to that use.

We disclose customers’ personal information to the following third parties:

  • Indigenous Business Canada

  • Pinnacle Business Services Ltd. (a wholly owned subsidiary of AMDI)

We disclose the customer’s information to Indigenous Business Canada when the customer is applying for a government contribution with a Statement of Intent. We do not disclose personal information such as that provided on the loan application or that personal information we may have gathered in the loan process to third parties for any other purposes.

Business contacts or business reference information is not protected by this policy. This type of information is not considered to be personal information and may be collected, used and disclosed without consent.

2.0 CONSENT

In most cases customers consent to us collecting, using and disclosing personal information for the purposes outlined above by simply agreeing to provide us with the personal information. However, there may be cases where we require explicit consent, including completion and signing off on a declaration to the effect that:

“The undersigned hereby declare(s) that all the information provided herein and on the accompanying statements is to the best of my/our knowledge true, complete and correct and understand it will be used by AMDI to determine credit worthiness. The proceeds of the loan applied for will be used for business purposes and not for personal, family or household purposes.”

And:

“The undersigned further consent(s) to AMDI making any enquiries it deems necessary to reach a decision on this application, and consent(s) to the disclosure at any time of any credit information about me/us to any credit reporting agency or to any one with whom I/we have financial relations.”

Our customers have the right to withdraw consent for our collection, use or disclosure of their personal information at any time. If a customer chooses to withdraw consent it may affect his/her ability to obtain a business loan or government contribution through Indigenous Business Canada. If a customer wishes to withdraw consent, or has any questions about withdrawing consent, he or she can contact the Privacy Officer.

The withdrawal of this consent will terminate the AMDI loan application process.

3.0 STORING CUSTOMER’S PERSONAL INFORMATION

AMDI only keeps personal information for as long as it is necessary for the purposes outlined above. This may include keeping the information after a loan application is completed and funds are advanced and yet not totally repaid. This information will be retained in our files in case of write-offs and/or litigation for up to 20 years, dependent upon the litigation process. All paid out loan files will be destroyed after seven years. All declined or withdrawn files will be destroyed after one year by a bonded records shredding company.

We are also required by law to maintain certain records for set amounts of time. We have appropriate safeguards in place to protect personal information and when we no longer need the information it is destroyed. We try to keep personal information as accurate as possible and on occasion we may contact customers to request their assistance in providing updated information as required.

4.0 ACCESS

Our customers have the right to access the personal information we hold about them. A customer can access his/her personal information by making a formal request to our Privacy Officer. A request for access must be written and must give enough information so that AMDI will be in a position to secure the proper information within 45 days of receipt of the request. If the customer believes that some of the personal information is incorrect he or she can request that the information be corrected.

AMDI can refuse access when:

a) the information is protected by legal privilege;
b) disclosure could give away confidential business information on AMDI
c) information was collected for an investigation or legal proceedings
d) information supplied is no longer available; or
e) a mediator or arbitrator collected the information.

AMDI must refuse access if disclosure:

a) could reasonably be expected to threaten the life or security of another individual;
b) would show personal information about another individual; or
c) would identify the individual who gave AMDI an opinion about the customer, and the individual giving the opinion does not give his or her consent to disclose his or her identity. AMDI can hold back the identity of the person who wrote the opinion while still giving access to the opinion itself, unless the applicant could figure out who gave the opinion by reading it.

We will charge our customers for out-of-pocket expenses in responding to an access request. The client will be provided with a written estimate prior to providing access. Any concerns with the estimated charge should be directed to our Privacy Officer.

5.0 ACCOUNTABILITY

We apply our best efforts to protect our customer’s privacy. If our customers have any concerns they are free to contact our Privacy Officer. We hope that the Privacy Officer will be able to resolve any problems. If concerns are not resolved, the Privacy Officer can provide information on making a formal complaint.