Introduction
Statistics Canada has a developed a Generic Tracking System to facilitate the shipments of printed survey collection materials to its regional offices as well as to individual field interviewers at their home addresses.
Objective
A privacy impact assessment of Statistics Canada’s Generic Tracking Service was conducted to determine if there were any privacy, confidentiality and security issues, and if so, to make recommendations for their resolution or mitigation.
Description
The Generic Tracking System will replace numerous other systems currently used by subject-matter divisions and regional offices and will offer a consistent platform for the creation, filling, shipment and receipt of these survey materials (blank questionnaires, training manuals, supplies, etc.) in a secure, timely and cost-efficient manner.
The risks associated with tracking and shipping survey materials have always been relatively low. However, moving from several tracking systems to a single generic tracking system should reduce even more risks. The Generic Tracking System will have a standard set of procedures for access control as well as a more robust functionality. In addition, if there are issues related to a shipment deliver (e.g., incorrect address), delivery service error), the Generic Tracking System will provide consistent warnings or flags so that search and notification procedures can be implemented sooner.
Conclusion
This privacy impact assessment did not identify any privacy risks that cannot be managed using either current safeguards or others that have been specifically developed for the implementation of the Generic Tracking Service.