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Privacy Act Annual report for 2024-2025

Privacy Act
Annual report for 2024-2025 [PDF - 1.2 MB]

Copyright information 

Cat. No.: En75-2/2E-PDF
ISSN: 2819-5973

 

This publication may be reproduced for personal or internal use without permission, provided the source is fully acknowledged. However, reproduction of this publication in whole or in part for purposes of redistribution
requires the prior written permission from the Canada Water Agency by contacting:

Canada Water Agency
510-234 Donald Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 1M8
Canada

Email: water-eau@cwa-aec.gc.ca

 

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the President of the Canada Water Agency and the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, 2025

 

Aussi disponible en français

 

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

Acronym/Abbreviation Definition
ATIP Access to Information and Privacy
CWA Canada Water Agency
PIA Privacy Impact Assessment
the Act Privacy Act

Introduction

The Canada Water Agency is pleased to present Parliament its first annual report outlining its Privacy Act activities during the reporting period of October 15th, 2024 (the day the CWA became a standalone entity) to March 31st, 2025.

This report is submitted in accordance with section 72 of the Privacy Act, which requires every head of a federal government institution to report to Parliament on the administration of the Act within their institution during the reporting period.

Purpose of the Privacy Act

Enacted in 1983, the Privacy Act gives Canadian citizens and people present in Canada the right to access information about themselves held by the federal government.

The Act imposes obligations on government institutions to govern the collection, use, protection, and disclosure of personal information.

Canada Water Agency’s Mandate

The Canada Water Agency’s mandate is to improve freshwater management in Canada by providing leadership, effective collaboration federally, and improved coordination and collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples to proactively address national and regional transboundary freshwater challenges and opportunities.

To deliver on this mandate, the CWA is advancing various priorities:

  1. Restoring and protecting Canada’s transboundary and nationally significant freshwater ecosystems;
  2. Anticipating and proactively responding to Canada’s most pressing freshwater challenges and opportunities;
  3. Creating impactful partnerships to responsibly steward and sustainably use Canada’s transboundary freshwater ecosystems;
  4. Cultivating water awareness in Canada; and,
  5. Translating freshwater science and data into knowledge to inform decision-making.

For more information about the Agency, please visit our website.

Organizational Structure

The Canada Water Agency’s Access to Information and Privacy Unit is responsible for the administration and application of the Privacy Act. It sits within the Corporate Secretariat, which is part of the broader President’s Office. The Unit consists of two full-time employees – an ATIP Lead Analyst and ATIP Analyst. Their activities are overseen by the Manager of the Corporate Secretariat, who directly reports to the President’s Chief of Staff.

The Canada Water Agency’s Access to Information and Privacy Unit
Description 
  • Chief of Staff - President's Office
    • Manager - Corporate Secretariat
      • Corporate Governance Officer
      • Senior Briefing Officer
      • ATIP Lead Analyst
        • ATIP Analyst

Delegation Order

The Delegation Order of this report outlines the Canada Water Agency officials with authority and accountability for decision-making related to the application of the Privacy Act.

On June 26th, 2024, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, approved the Delegation Order in effect during the reporting period (Annex A).

Performance 2024-2025

The following report represents an overview of activities undertaken by the Canada Water Agency during the reporting period. Annex B contains detailed statistics on the requests processed by the Agency under the Privacy Act.

From October 15th, 2024, to March 31st, 2025, the CWA received no privacy requests.

The Agency also received no consultation requests under the Act.

Exemptions and Exclusions

The Privacy Act prescribes exemptions and exclusions that allow or require the Canada Water Agency to refuse to disclose certain types of information.

During the reporting period, no requests were completed by the Agency and, therefore, no exemptions or exclusions were applied.

Monitoring Compliance

The Manager of the Corporate Secretariat oversees the Canada Water Agency’s ATIP Unit and receives regular reports on incoming requests, timelines, retrieval, challenges, and compliance related to privacy. This allows for regular performance and compliance management to ensure that the Agency’s legislative requirements related to the Privacy Act are met in a timely and efficient manner.

Training and Awareness

The Canada Water Agency offers employees training and awareness resources from the Canada School of Public Service on their responsibilities under the Privacy Act. Moreover, the ATIP Unit is available for employees to ask questions, raise concerns, and seek advice.

Privacy Impact Assessments

A privacy impact assessment is a risk management process that helps institutions ensure that they meet legislative requirements and identify the impact(s) of their programs and activities on individuals’ privacy. During the reporting period, no PIAs were completed.

Material Privacy Breaches

A privacy breach is the improper or unauthorized access to, creation, collection, use, disclosure, retention or disposal of personal information. A privacy breach becomes “material” when it could reasonably be expected to create a real risk of significant harm to an individual (i.e. bodily harm, humiliation, damage to reputation or relationships, loss of employment, business or professional opportunities, financial loss, identity theft, negative effects on a credit record, and damage to or loss of property).

During the reporting period, no material privacy breaches occurred.

Policies, Guidelines, and Procedures

The ATIP Unit is currently reviewing and finalizing Privacy and Access to Information policy frameworks and annexes to share with employees. This work is expected to continue into the next fiscal year.

Initiatives and Projects to Improve Privacy

During the reporting period, the Canada Water Agency created its ATIP Unit to fulfill its legislative obligations in regard to the Privacy Act. For the remainder of the period, it focused on developing ATIP policies and procedures (for processing requests from the public, proactively disclosing information, etc.) in line with Treasury Board Secretariat guidelines. Thes efforts helped to improve the ATIP Unit’s workflow, processing times, and accountability.

Furthermore, the ATIP Unit produced two training sessions for CWA staff and committed to producing more training sessions and materials in the upcoming fiscal year so that employees are equipped to manage requests efficiently and comply with the Privacy Act.

Summary of Key Issues and Actions Taken on Complaints

Applicants have the right to file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada related to the processing of a Privacy request.

During the reporting period, no complaints were received.

Annex A: Delegation Order

The Delegation Order outlines the Canada Water Agency officials with authority and accountability for decision-making related to the application of the Access to Information Act.
Description 

ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ACTS DELEGATION ORDER

I, the undersigned, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, pursuant to section 95 of the Access to Information Act and section 73 of the Privacy Act, hereby delegate the persons holding the positions set out in the Delegation of Authority Schedule attached hereto, or the persons occupying on an acting basis those positions, to exercise the powers, duties and functions of the Minister as head of the Canada Water Agency, under the provisions of those Acts and related regulations set out in the schedule opposite each position.

Position Access to Information Act, and Regulations Privacy Act and Regulations
President, Canada Water Agency Full authority Full authority
Director General, Policy, Engagement and Corporate Secretary Full authority Full authority
Director General, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer Full authority Full authority
Manager, Corporate Secretariat and Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator Full authority Full authority
Lead Analyst, Access to Information and Privacy 7(a), 8, 9, 11, 26, & 27(1)(4) 15, 17(2)(b) & (3)(b)

Annex B: Statistical Report on the Privacy Act

Name of institution: Canada Water Agency

Reporting period:  4/1/2024 to 3/31/2025

Section 1: Requests under the Privacy Act

1.1 Number of requests received
Category Number of requests
Received during reporting period 0
Outstanding from previous reporting periods 0
  • Outstanding from previous reporting period
 0 0
  • Outstanding from more than one reporting period
 0
Total 0
Closed during reporting period 0
Carried over to next reporting period 0
  • Carried over within legislated timeline
 0 0
  • Carried over beyond legislated timeline
 0
1.2 Channels of requests
Source Number of requests
Online 0
E-mail 0
Mail 0
In person 0
Phone 0
Fax 0
Total 0

Section 2: Informal requests

2.1 Number of informal requests
Source Number of requests
Received during reporting period 0
Outstanding from previous reporting periods 0
  • Outstanding from previous reporting period
 0  
  • Outstanding from more than one reporting period
 0
Total 0
Closed during reporting period 0
Carried over to next reporting period 0
2.2 Channels of informal requests
Source Number of requests
Online 0
E-mail 0
Mail 0
In person 0
Phone 0
Fax 0
Total 0
2.3 Completion time of informal requests
Completion time
0 to 15
days		 16 to 30
days		 31 to 60
days		 61 to 120
days		 121 to 180
days		 181 to 365
days		 More than 365
days		 Total
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2.4 Pages released informally
Less than 100 pages
released		 100-500 pages
released		 501-1000 pages
released		 1001-5000 pages
released		 More than 5000 pages
released
Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Section 3: Requests closed during the reporting period

3.1 Disposition and completion time
Disposition of requests Completion time
0 to 15 days 16 to 30 days 31 to 60 days 61 to 120 days 121 to 180 days 181 to 365 days More than 365 days Total
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
No records exist 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3.2 Exemptions
Section Number of requests
18(2) 0
19(1)(a) 0
19(1)(b) 0
19(1)(c) 0
19(1)(d) 0
19(1)(e) 0
19(1)(f) 0
20 0
21 0
22(1)(a)(i) 0
22(1)(a)(ii) 0
22(1)(a)(iii) 0
22(1)(b) 0
22(1)(c) 0
22(2) 0
22.1 0
22.2 0
22.3 0
22.4 0
23(a) 0
23(b) 0
24(a) 0
24(b) 0
25 0
26 0
27 0
27.1 0
28 0
3.3 Exclusions
Section Number of requests
69(1)(a) 0
69(1)(b) 0
69.1 0
70(1) 0
70(1)(a) 0
70(1)(b) 0
70(1)(c) 0
70(1)(d) 0
70(1)(e) 0
70(1)(f) 0
70.1 0
3.4 Format of information released
Paper Electronic Other
E-record Data set Video Audio
0 0 0 0 0 0

3.5 Complexity

3.5.1 Relevant pages processed and disclosed for paper and e-record formats
Number of pages processed Number of pages disclosed Number of requests
0 0 0
3.5.2 Relevant pages processed per request disposition for paper and e-record formats by size of requests
Disposition Less than 100
pages processed		 100-500
pages processed		 501-1000
pages processed		 1001-5000
pages processed		 More than 5000 pages processed
Number of requests Pages
processed		 Number of
requests		 Pages
processed		 Number of
requests		 Pages
processed		 Number of requests Pages
processed		 Number of requests Pages
processed
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3.5.3 Relevant minutes processed and disclosed for audio formats
Number of minutes processed Number of minutes disclosed Number of requests
0 0 0
3.5.4 Relevant minutes processed per request disposition for audio formats by size of requests
Disposition Less than 60 minutes
processed		 60 - 120 minutes processed More than 120 minutes processed
Number of requests Minutes processed Number of requests Minutes processed Number of requests Minutes processed
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request
abandoned		 0 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0
3.5.5 Relevant minutes processed and disclosed for video formats
Number of minutes processed Number of minutes disclosed Number of requests
0 0 0
3.5.6 Relevant minutes processed per request disposition for video formats by size of requests
Disposition Less than 60 minutes
processed		 60 - 120 minutes processed More than 120 minutes processed
Number of requests Minutes processed Number of
requests		 Minutes processed Number of requests Minutes processed
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0
3.5.7 Other complexities
Disposition Consultation required Legal advice sought Interwoven information Other Total
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0

3.6 Closed requests

3.6.1 Requests closed within legislated timelines
Number of requests closed within legislated timelines 0
Percentage of requests closed within legislated timelines (%) 0

3.7 Deemed refusals

3.7.1 Reasons for not meeting legislated timelines
Number of requests closed past the legislated timelines Principal reason
Interference with operations/workload External consultation Internal consultation Other
0 0 0 0 0
3.7.2 Requests closed beyond legislated timelines (including any extension taken)
Number of days past legislated timelines Number of requests past legislated timeline where no extension was taken Number of requests past legislated timeline where an extension was taken Total
1 to 15 days 0 0 0
16 to 30 days 0 0 0
31 to 60 days 0 0 0
61 to 120 days 0 0 0
121 to 180 days 0 0 0
181 to 365 days 0 0 0
More than 365 days 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0
3.8 Requests for translation
Translation requests Accepted Refused Total
English to French 0 0 0
French to English 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0

Section 4: Disclosures under subsections 8(2) and 8(5)

4.1 Disclosures under subsections 8(2) and 8(5)
Paragraph 8(2)(e) Paragraph 8(2)(m) Subsection 8(5) Total
0 0 0 0

Section 5: Requests for correction of personal information and notations

5.1 Requests for correction of personal information and notations
Disposition for correction requests received Number
Notations attached 0
Requests for correction accepted 0
Total 0

Section 6: Extensions

6.1 Reasons for extensions
Number of requests where an extension was taken 15(a)(i) Interference with operations 15(a)(ii) Consultation 15(b)
Translation purposes or conversion
Further review required to determine exemptions Large volume of pages Large volume of requests Documents are difficult to obtain Cabinet Confidence Section (Section 70) External Internal
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6.2 Length of extensions
Length of extensions 15(a)(i) Interference with operations 15(a)(ii) Consultation 15(b)
Translation purposes or conversion
Further review required to determine exemptions Large volume of pages Large volume of requests Documents are difficult to obtain Cabinet Confidence Section (Section 70) External Internal
1 to 15 days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 to 30 days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 days or greater 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Section 7: Consultations received from other institutions and organizations

7.1 Consultations received from other Government of Canada institutions and other organizations
Consultations Other Government of Canada Number of pages to review Other organizations Number of pages to review
Received during the reporting period 0 0 0 0
Outstanding from the previous reporting period 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0
Closed during the reporting period 0 0 0 0
Carried over with negotiated timelines 0 0 0 0
Carried over beyond negotiated timelines 0 0 0 0
7.2 Recommendations and completion time for consultations received from other Government of Canada institutions
Recommendation Number of days required to complete consultation requests
1 to 15 days 16 to 30 days 31 to 60 days 61 to 120 days 121 to 180 days 181 to 365 days More than 365 days Total
Disclosed entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exempt entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exclude entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Consult other institution 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7.3 Recommendations and completion time for consultations received from other organizations outside the Government of Canada
Recommendation Number of days required to complete consultation requests
1 to 15 days 16 to 30 days 31 to 60 days 61 to 120 days 121 to 180 days 181 to 365 days More than 365 days Total
Disclosed entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exempt entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exclude entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Consult other institution 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Section 8: Completion time of consultations on Cabinet confidences

8.1 Requests with Legal Services
Number of days Fewer than 100 pages processed 101-500 pages processed 501-1000
pages processed		 1001-5000
pages processed		 More than 5000
pages processed
Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed
1 to 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 to 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 to 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
61 to 120 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
121 to 180 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
181 to 365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More than 365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8.2 Requests with Privy Council Office
Number of days Fewer than 100 pages processed 101-500 pages processed 501-1000
pages processed		 1001-5000
pages processed		 More than 5000
pages processed
Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed
1 to 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 to 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 to 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
61 to 120 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
121 to 180 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
181 to 365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More than 365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Section 9: Complaints and investigations notices received

9.1 Complaints and investigations notices received
Section 31 Section 33 Section 35 Court action Total
0 0 0 0 0

Section 10: Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA) and Personal Information Banks (PIB)

10.1 Privacy Impact Assessments
Number of PIAs completed 0
Number of PIAs modified 0
10.2 Institution-specific and Central Personal Information Banks
Personal Information Banks Active Created Terminated Modified
Institution-specific 0 0 0 0
Central 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0

Section 11: Material privacy breaches

11.1 Material privacy breaches reported
Number of material privacy breaches reported to TBS 0
Number of material privacy breaches reported to OPC 0
11.2 Non-material privacy breaches
Number of non-material privacy breaches 0

Section 12: Resources related to the Privacy Act

12.1 Allocated costs
Expenditures Amount
Salaries $17,333
Overtime $0
Goods and services $0
  • Professional services contracts
 $0
  • Other
 $0
Total $17,333
12.2 Human resources
Resources Person years dedicated to privacy activitiesFootnote *
Full-time employees 0.200
Part-time and casual employees 0.000
Regional staff 0.000
Consultants and agency personnel 0.000
Students 0.000
Total 0.200

Annex C: Supplemental Report on the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act

Name of institution: Canada Water Agency

Reporting period: 2024-04-01 to 2025-03-31

Section 1: Open requests and complaints under the Access to Information Act

1.1 Requests carried over to next reporting period, broken down by reporting period received.
Reporting Period Requests Carried Over Were Received Requests Carried Over that are Within Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2025 Requests Carried Over that are Beyond Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2025 Total
Received in 2024-25 0 1 1
Received in 2023-24 0 0 0
Received in 2022-23 0 0 0
Received in 2021-22 0 0 0
Received in 2020-21 0 0 0
Received in 2019-20 0 0 0
Received in 2018-19 0 0 0
Received in 2017-18 0 0 0
Received in 2016-17 0 0 0
Received in 2015-16 or earlier 0 0 0
Total 0 1 1

Note: Row 11, Col. 3 of Section 1.1 must equal Row 7, Col. 1 of Section 1.1 of the 2024-25 Statistical Report on the Access to Information Act

1.2 Active complaints with the Information Commissioner of Canada, broken down by reporting period received
Reporting Period Active Complaints Were Received by Institution Number of Active Complaints
Received in 2024-25 0
Received in 2023-24 0
Received in 2022-23 0
Received in 2021-22 0
Received in 2020-21 0
Received in 2019-2020 0
Received in 2018-19 0
Received in 2017-18 0
Received in 2016-17 0
Received in 2015-16 or earlier 0
Total 0

Section 2: Requests Carried Over and Active Complaints Under the Privacy Act

2.1 Requests carried over to next reporting period, broken down by reporting period received
Reporting Period Requests Carried Over Were Received Requests Carried Over that are Within Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2025 Requests Carried Over that are Beyond Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2025 Total
Received in 2024-25 0 0 0
Received in 2023-24 0 0 0
Received in 2022-23 0 0 0
Received in 2021-22 0 0 0
Received in 2020-21 0 0 0
Received in 2019-20 0 0 0
Received in 2018-19 0 0 0
Received in 2017-18 0 0 0
Received in 2016-17 0 0 0
Received in 2015-16 or earlier 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0

Note: Row 11, Col. 3 of Section 2.1 must equal Row 7, Col. 1 of Section 1.1 of the 2024-25 Statistical Report on the Privacy Act

2.2 Active complaints with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, broken down by reporting period received
Reporting Period Active Complaints Were Received by Institution Number of Active Complaints
Received in 2024-25 0
Received in 2023-24 0
Received in 2022-23 0
Received in 2021-22 0
Received in 2020-21 0
Received in 2019-2020 0
Received in 2018-19 0
Received in 2017-18 0
Received in 2016-17 0
Received in 2015-16 or earlier 0
Total 0

Section 3: Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Has your institution begun a new collection or a new consistent use of the SIN in 2024-25? No

Section 4: Universal access under the Privacy Act

How many requests were received from foreign nationals outside of Canada in 2024-25? 0

Note: Row 1, Col. 1 of Section 4 must be equal to or less than Row 1, Col. 1 of Section 1.1 of the 2024-25 Statistical Report on the Privacy Act

Page details

2025-10-07