PRIVACY POLICY AND PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

At Cloutier, Forget CPA Inc., we place great importance on protecting the personal information of our clients, employees, and representatives. In accordance with the Private Sector Privacy Act, we are committed to safeguarding the confidentiality of personal information collected in the course of our activities. This privacy policy aims to inform you about our practices regarding the collection, use, disclosure, retention, and protection of your personal information. By providing us with your personal information, you agree to the terms of this policy and authorize us to process your information in accordance with it.

1. Consent

1.1 Commitment to Privacy Protection

We are committed to protecting the privacy of our users. We collect and use personal information only with explicit consent and in compliance with applicable laws.

1.2 Acceptance of the Terms of Our Policy

By accessing our website www.cfcpa.ca or providing us with personal information, you accept the terms of our privacy policy. This includes your consent to the collection and use of your personal information as outlined in this policy.

1.3 Right to Withdraw Consent

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. We will inform you of the possible consequences of withdrawal, such as the inability to provide certain products or process specific requests. Your decision to withdraw consent will be recorded in our records.

1.4 Exceptions to Consent Requirements

In certain exceptional circumstances, we may collect, use, or disclose personal information without your prior consent. These situations may include legal, medical, or security imperatives where obtaining consent is impossible or impractical. Examples include suspected contract breaches, fraud prevention or detection, or law enforcement needs.

2. Collection of Personal Information

2.1 We collect personal information through various methods, including:

• Emails and customer service communications
• Online request forms (including appointment scheduling)
• Cookies and similar technologies on our website
• Video surveillance

2.2 We may also collect information via third parties, such as:

• Technology service providers (e.g., order platforms or newsletter services)
• Recruitment portals for candidate submissions
• Professional social networks like LinkedIn for recruitment or marketing
• Consultants offering services on our behalf
• Cloud storage companies hosting client data
• IT security providers monitoring threats and protecting data
• Customer relationship management (CRM) platforms
• Logistics providers managing product deliveries

3. Types of Personal Information Collected

3.1 We collect a variety of data, including but not limited to:

• Personal identifiers (name, address, email, phone number)
• Technical or digital information (IP address, online activities)
• Financial information (salary, payment details, credit records)
• Demographic data (age, ethnicity, nationality, residence)

3.2 Children's Privacy

We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under 14. If you are under 14, please do not provide any personal information. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 14, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child under 14 has provided us with information, please contact us.

4. Use of Personal Information

4.1 We use your personal information for:

• Responding to inquiries and requests
• Managing transactions (e.g., payment processing, issuing receipts)
• Registering for newsletters, downloads, or webinars
• HR management, including recruitment and contracts
• Marketing communications with the option to unsubscribe
• User account management for accessing website features

5. Sharing and Disclosure of Personal Information

5.1 Personal information may be accessed by specific personnel or partner organizations, such as:

• Customer service teams
• IT department for technical support
• Payment service providers for transaction processing
• Data security officers for protection against unauthorized access
• Legal consultants for compliance with laws
• Cloud service providers for secure data hosting

We ensure this information is used solely for specified purposes and complies with confidentiality standards. International data transfers comply with applicable privacy laws.

6. Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. When you follow these links, your data is no longer governed by our privacy policy. We recommend reviewing the privacy statements of those websites.

7. Security of Personal Information

7.1 Security Measures

We implement rigorous physical and technological measures to protect personal information, including:

• Physical security (e.g., electronic locks, surveillance cameras)
• Restricted access for authorized personnel only
• Employee training on data security practices
• Data encryption
• Intrusion detection systems
• Disaster recovery plans

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.

7.2 Staff Commitment

All employees, directors, and contractors are required to maintain confidentiality, even after their affiliation with our organization ends.

8. Retention and Destruction of Personal Information

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for stated purposes, legal obligations, or dispute resolution. Usage data may be kept for analytics or security unless legal obligations require longer retention.

9. Your Rights

9.1 We recognize and respect your rights, including:

• Access: View personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Request updates for inaccurate or incomplete information.
• De-indexing: Request removal of personal information from online dissemination.
• Complaint: File a complaint about data handling.

Requests can be made in writing, and we will verify identity before providing information. Access may be denied under certain legal circumstances.

10. Policy Updates

This policy may be updated to reflect changes in practices or legal requirements. Updates will be posted on our website.

11. Contact

For questions about this policy, contact our Privacy Officer:

• Email: info@cflcpa.ca
• Mail: 200-5100 Hutchison, Montreal, Quebec, H2V 4A9
• Phone: 514-274-9591