Online surveys and questionnaires

Navigators must be careful with handling personal information provided by community, especially if you are collecting this information electronically through online surveys and questionnaires. 

Contact information (eg. telephone numbers, e-mail addresses) that are collected alongside personal (eg. name) and demographic information can compromise a person's identity if there is a data breach. 

It is recommended:

1. Wherever possible, use a survey platform which has servers in Canada for Canadian customers. Avoid Google Forms in favour of platforms such as Alchemer/SurveyGizmo. 
2. If Google is your only viable option, do not collect personal data together with demographic data. Conduct two separate questionnaires with personal info (name, email) on one, and demographic information on the other, so the information is disassociated.
3. When providing the City with information collected from your surveys, please remove any personally-identifiable information (including names, e-mails, etc.) beforehand. All information must be anonymous unless otherwise requested.
4. Clearly articulate to participants who is collecting the information (eg. the Navigator and Organization) and how it will be used (eg. contact information to keep participants informed on progress; anonymous demographic information to be shared with the City).

The Province requires the City to comply with "Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act" (FIPPA). While Neighbourhood Houses are not required to do so, we are working in partnership and must do our best to follow this guidance.