How CED protects your personal information
Any information you provide, including your personal information, is collected and handled by CED under the authority of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec Act, the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.
Use the sections on this page to learn how CED may use the information it collects.
Funding applications and the CED Client Space
When you apply for financial assistance or use the CED Client Space, certain personal and business information is collected to:
- evaluate your eligibility for financial assistance;
- review your application and administer the agreement with CED;
- ensure the management and security of the platform.
Security and transmission
CED uses physical, administrative and technological safeguards to protect your information, including data encryption, access controls and internal confidentiality protocols. Only authorized employees can access your information as part of their duties.
The Client Space includes specific cybersecurity measures:
- encrypted communications and secure authentication;
- the requirement for user organizations to maintain an up-to-date information technology environment protected by antivirus software;
- shared responsibility between CED and the organization for access management and security.
Website browsing and online forms
When you visit the CED website or complete an online form, the following information may be collected:
- information you voluntarily provide (name, email address, message content);
- non-identifiable technical information (anonymous website usage statistics).
This information is collected under the authority of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec Act. It is used to respond to your requests, improve our services and produce statistical analyses on how our digital platforms are used.
Online forms hosted on Government of Canada platforms use secure channels (HTTPS) and comply with federal digital privacy standards.
The information collected through these platforms is described in the following personal information banks:
Social media
CED's social media accounts represent the Agency’s official presence on external platforms.
Information you share when interacting with us (comments, likes, private messages, etc.) may be collected under section 10 of the Privacy Act and used to:
- respond to your messages or comments;
- produce reports on public engagement and the reach of our posts;
- conduct statistical analyses on the performance of our communications.
The information collected through these platforms is described in the following personal information banks:
To protect your privacy and the privacy of others:
- avoid including personal information (telephone numbers, addresses, etc.) in public posts or messages;
- review the terms of use and privacy policies of the platforms you use.
Retention of personal information
Personal information is retained in accordance with the requirements of personal information bank CED PPU 1001.
The retention period varies depending on the program, form or agreement.
Important: If you choose not to provide the requested personal information, your application may not be processed or prioritized.
CED may disclose this information to third parties, in accordance with specific authorizations.
The collection, use, disclosure and retention of personal information are described in personal information bank CED PPU 1001.
Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to access your personal information, request corrections, and file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
If you have questions about how CED collects or uses your personal information, please contact us using the instructions on the Access to Information and Privacy page.