The Northwestern Health Unit is committed to respecting your privacy and protecting your personal information. This Privacy Statement explains the current information management practices. The Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), governs the handling of all personal health information by the Northwestern Health Unit; the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) governs all non-health related personal information and other records in the Health Unit's possession. These two laws regulate how we may collect, use, retain, disclose and dispose of your personal information.
The Northwestern Health Unit only collects personal health information required to conduct its legislated duties, the main legislation (but not only) being the Health Protection and Promotion Act. All personal information is treated as confidential, and is used only for the intended purposes. Personal information is kept locked and/or password protected, and is only accessed by authorized employees that have signed oaths of confidentiality. Personal information is only disclosed with consent (direct or implied) or if mandated by law. Information is kept for a period of time no less than prescribed in the Board of Health's Record Retention Guidelines, after which it is destroyed in a secure manner.
If you would like access to, or to correct your own personal health* information held by the health unit, contact Mark Perrault, our PHIPA Contact Person who will respond as soon as possible within 30 days.
By phone:
(807) 468-3147 ext 260
In writing:
Northwestern Health Unit
PHIPA Contact
21 Wolsley Street
Kenora, ON
P9N 3W7
Or by email:
* Requests for all other records in the health unit's possession other than personal health information fall under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).
Section 17 of MFIPPA outlines the procedure, which is as follows
A person seeking access to a record shall,
(a) Make a request in writing to the institution that the person believes has custody or control of the record;
(b) Provide sufficient detail to enable an experienced employee of the institution, upon a reasonable effort, to identify the record; and
(c) At the time of making the request, pay the fee prescribed by the regulations for that purpose.
Address your request with the five-dollar fee ($5) to:
Freedom of Information Officer
Northwestern Health Unit
21 Wolsley Street
Kenora, ON P9N 3W7