Privacy Commissioner of Canada's Ruling x 2

Subsidy Renewal Applications were delivered last week. Members had submitted these same forms in February of this year, but our previous Office Co-ordinator did not do the calculations. My first question is: What happened to our documents? There was no security whatsoever in the office. Paperwork was endlessly strewn about the common room, letters were found in the recycling bin unshredded and documents were undoubtedly removed from the office.

The subsidy form delivered is the same form we complained about to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. The form makes reference to FBA/GW. Family Benefits and General Welfare were replaced by Ontario Works in 1998. The form still includes the demand for the drug card used by these recipients. The Privacy Commissioner of Canada in April, 2011, ruled that the drug card neither confirms who the beneficiaries are under these programs, nor how many residents occupy a unit. It merely denotes who is covered under the drug card. [See post - April 13, 2011]

The co-op would have received a copy of this ruling, but nevertheless, I sent a typed copy to the office, to which I received no reply. I resent this copy to the office last week and received a polite and almost curious response, asking if I could send her a copy of the original ruling, so that she may inform CHASEO, CHF and the Office Co-ordinators throughout the city. The Privacy Commissioner's office in their investigation, also interviewed The Agency regarding their demand for the drug card. The Agency stated that they DO NOT require the drug card as proof of income. So this leads me to my second question: Why on earth wouldn't The Agency notify the Office administrators of co-ops, not only in Ottawa, but throughout Ontario AND issue them new forms in light of the fact that The Agency receives millions of dollars each year to oversee co-ops? Personally, I think that The Agency responded to the Privacy Commissioner's Office with, 'Who Us? Of course not - we're completely on top of everything'. In other words, they covered up!

What is really disturbing is that my husband and I had to go outside the co-op movement in order to effect change within the co-op movement. We will await the new subsidy forms with patient anticipation.