Privacy Policy

The Canadian Debtors Association ("CDA", "we", "us", or "our") is a national non-profit organization committed to empowering financially vulnerable Canadians through education, advocacy, and fair practices. We take the privacy of everyone who interacts with our website and services seriously. 

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and your rights under applicable Canadian privacy law — including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial legislation. 

By using our website at www.canadiandebtorsassociation.ca, you consent to the practices described in this policy. 

1. Information We Collect 

1.1 Information You Provide Directly 

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including: 

• Contact form submissions — your name, email address, and phone number when you reach out to us 

• Membership and certification applications — professional and contact details required to become a CDA member or pursue a Certified Debtor Advocate (CDA) designation 

• Payment information — billing details required to process membership fees (processed securely through third-party payment processors; we do not store full payment card details on our servers) 

• Success story submissions — personal experiences you choose to share with us, which may be published on our website with your explicit consent 

1.2 Information Collected Automatically 

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including: 

• IP address and approximate geographic location 

• Browser type and version 

• Device type and operating system 

• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring URLs 

• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 5) 

2. How We Use Your Information 

We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes: 

• To respond to your inquiries and provide support 

• To process membership and certification applications 

• To process payments for membership fees 

• To publish success stories on our website, with your prior written consent 

• To send you updates, newsletters, or information about CDA programs and events (only where you have opted in) 

• To improve our website and understand how visitors use our services 

• To comply with legal obligations and enforce our policies 

We will not use your information for purposes other than those described in this policy without first obtaining your consent. 

3. Legal Basis for Processing 

We collect and process your personal information based on: 

• Your consent — for example, when you submit a contact form, apply for membership, or agree to have your success story published 

• Contractual necessity — to fulfill membership and certification agreements 

• Legitimate interests — to maintain the security and functionality of our website, provided these do not override your privacy rights 

• Legal obligations — where required by applicable Canadian law 

4. Sharing Your Information 

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances: 

• Service providers — trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website and delivering our services (such as payment processors, email platforms, and website hosting providers), under strict confidentiality obligations 

• Legal requirements — where required to comply with a court order, applicable law, or regulatory obligation 

• Protection of rights — where necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of the CDA, our members, or the public 

Any third parties with whom we share data are required to handle your information in accordance with applicable privacy laws. 

5. Cookies and Analytics 

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us understand how visitors interact with our site. 

5.1 Types of Cookies We Use 

• Essential cookies — necessary for the website to function properly 

• Analytics cookies — used to collect aggregated, anonymized information about how visitors use our website (for example, through tools such as Google Analytics) 

5.2 Your Cookie Choices 

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website. Where required by law, we will obtain your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device. 

6. Data Retention 

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Specifically: 

• Contact form inquiries are retained for up to 2 years 

• Membership and certification records are retained for the duration of your membership and for a reasonable period thereafter, in accordance with our legal obligations 

• Payment records are retained as required by Canadian tax and financial record-keeping laws 

• Success stories are retained until you withdraw your consent for publication 

When personal information is no longer required, we securely delete or anonymize it. 

7. Security 

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include secure data transmission (HTTPS), restricted access to personal data, and the use of reputable third-party service providers with strong security practices. 

However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. 

8. Your Privacy Rights 

Under PIPEDA and applicable provincial privacy legislation, you have the right to: 

• Access — request a copy of the personal information we hold about you 

• Correction — request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information 

• Withdrawal of consent — withdraw your consent to our use of your information at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions 

• Complaint — file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you believe we have not handled your information appropriately 

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 10 below. We will respond to your request within 30 days. 

9. Sensitive Information 

Given that CDA serves Canadians experiencing financial hardship, we recognize that the information you share with us — including information about your financial situation — may be sensitive. We treat all personal information provided in connection with debt advocacy with the highest degree of care and confidentiality, and we access it only for the purposes for which it was provided. 

10. Children's Privacy 

Our website and services are not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, please contact us and we will promptly delete it. 

11. Links to Third-Party Websites 

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit. 

12. Changes to This Policy 

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. We will post the updated policy on this page with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Material changes will be communicated to members directly. 

13. Contact Us 

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our handling of your personal information, please contact us: info@canadiandebtorsassociation.ca

Canadian Debtors Association

1000-10 Four Seasons Place 

Toronto, ON  M9B 6H7 

Phone: 1-855-806-3328 

Website: www.canadiandebtorsassociation.ca

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.priv.gc.ca or by phone at 1-800-282-1376.

This policy was last reviewed and updated on April 25, 2026.