COVID-19 quarantine compliance and enforcement (Compliance Call Campaign 4.0 and 5.0): Privacy compliance evaluation

Approved July 2021

Description of program

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, enhanced border measures authorized by the Quarantine Act were introduced. These measures ensure appropriate actions are taken to reduce the spread of the virus.

To verify and improve compliance with the Emergency Orders under the Quarantine Act, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) launched the COVID-19 Quarantine Compliance Call Campaign. PHAC sought the support of Employment and Social Development Canada (Service Canada) to assist with the delivery of the campaign.

The scope of the services provided by Service Canada under phases 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 of the campaign were expanded. This expansion accounted for the growing number of travellers entering Canada who are not exempt from quarantine. The expanded services are referred to as phases 4.0 and 5.0, and include:

• an increased number of travellers contacted by call agents who make calls to travellers to verify compliance with the federal quarantine-related requirements
  • these call agents are designated as screening officers by the Minister of Health under the Quarantine Act
• a computer-calling system (interactive voice recognition) that calls travellers who are not contacted by a live agent, which allows travellers to complete the mandatory:
  • confirmation that they have arrived at their place of quarantine
  • reporting on whether they are experiencing specified symptoms of COVID-19

Why a privacy compliance evaluation was completed

In accordance with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's Interim Directive on Privacy Impact Assessment, a privacy compliance evaluation was completed in place of a full privacy impact assessment. As a new program and urgent COVID-19-related initiative, the COVID-19 quarantine compliance and enforcement (Compliance Call Campaign 4.0 and 5.0) meets the criteria for a privacy compliance evaluation. A full privacy impact assessment will be completed and submitted to the Treasury Board of Canada and to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, in accordance to the timeline described in the directive.

More information

The privacy compliance evaluation examined the the collection, use, disclosure and retention of personal information for the COVID-19 quarantine compliance and enforcement (Compliance Call Campaign 4.0 and 5.0). The privacy compliance recommended the following actions to reduce privacy risks:

• updating the relevant personal information bank (PIB) [Quarantine Program PIB PHAC PPU 071]

The Privacy Management Division and PHAC are putting into place measures to address the identified compliance issues.