From the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:
As an Ombudsperson, the Commissioner’s primary role is to investigate and try to resolve privacy complaints against organizations. Her findings on a given issue may differ depending on the facts of each case and the position of the parties. Over time, findings on certain key issues have begun to crystallize into general principles that can serve as helpful guidance for organizations.
In an effort to summarize the general principles that have emerged from the Commissioner’s findings to date, the OPC has begun issuing Interpretations of certain key concepts in PIPEDA. These Interpretations are not binding legal interpretations, but rather, are intended only as a guide. As the Commissioner issues more findings, and the courts render more decisions, these Interpretations may evolve and be further refined over time.
In this interpretation, the OPC discusses the meaning of “personal information” in PIPEDA, how it applies in different sectors or contexts, and how courts have viewed the term.