Privacy impact assessment summary for the Parks Canada newsletters and contests

Description

To optimize visitor experience, and as part of public engagement activities related to public awareness and appreciation, Parks Canada (PC) sends newsletters and hosts contests at both the national and local levels. Personal information is used to send promotional emails about PC events and activities, special offers, trip planning news and more. In critical situations, information could be used to send informational emails that would greatly impact visits to our places (for example, closures).

Contests may be administered online or via paper mechanisms (for example, ballot box, mail-in entry format). Some of these contests are hosted solely by PC while others are administered by partners in some manner. Personal information is used to contact winners. For national contests and some local contests, Parks Canada includes an option allowing contest applicants to “opt-in” to inclusion of their personal contact information into newsletter mailing lists.

Overview and PIA initiation

The purpose of this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) report is to provide evidence of the Agency’s and the Contractor's compliance to legislative requirements and an assessment of the privacy related risks. This PIA refers to national and regional newsletters and contests, and analyzes the privacy risks/issues associated with the overall solutions, and provides recommendations.

As of 2026, PC operates a national newsletter, the Parks Canada Newsletter, multiple regional newsletters. It also operates national and local contests, and sometimes provides prizes to 3rd party contests.

Summary of analysis and recommendations

The Privacy Impact Assessment identified no privacy risks or compliance issues. As such, PC is adequately accountable in terms of privacy and the protection of personal information. Individuals are informed of the purpose of the collection at the time of the collection in the Privacy Notice Statement and also in personal information banks (PIBs) for Outreach Activities and Public Communications. Overall, PC is in compliance with the Privacy Act and the Treasury Board of Canada's Policy on Privacy Protection.

Related personal information banks

Treasury Board Secretariat Standard Personal Information Banks PSU 938 – Outreach Activities (Contests) and PSU 914 – Public Communications (Newsletters).

For more information about this privacy impact assessment

In order to have access to the full PIA, please submit a formal request at the following link: Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Online Request (apps.gc.ca).