Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 3/11/2025

Last Updated: 3/11/2025

1. Introduction

MIIKAHNAH CONNECT (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our users. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website miikahnahconnect.ca (the “Website”). This Website connects Indigenous workers with construction job opportunities. We operate in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and are subject to applicable privacy legislation, including The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Manitoba) (FIPPA) where applicable, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Canada) (PIPEDA). By accessing or using the Website, you signify that you have read, understood, and agree to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

• Personal Information: This is information that can be used to identify you as an individual, such as your name, address, email address, phone number, date of birth, and other relevant contact details. We collect this information when you register for an account, create a profile, apply for jobs, or otherwise communicate with us.
• Sensitive Personal Information: This includes your Social Insurance Number (SIN), banking information (account number, transit number, institution number), and information required to generate tax documents (e.g., T4, T4A). We collect this information solely for the purposes of facilitating payment for work performed and complying with Canadian tax reporting obligations.
• Employment-Related Information: This includes your skills, experience, qualifications, certifications, work history, references, and any other information you provide related to your job search and employment prospects.
• Indigenous Identity Information: If you choose to self-identify as Indigenous (e.g., First Nations, Métis, Inuit), we collect this information. We handle this information with particular sensitivity and respect for Indigenous data governance principles.
• Usage Data: We may automatically collect certain information about your device and how you interact with the Website. This may include your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, links clicked, and other usage details. This data is generally used to improve the Website's functionality and user experience and is not linked to your personally identifiable information in a way that identifies you, unless required for troubleshooting or security purposes.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To Provide Services: To create and manage your account, facilitate connections between workers and construction companies, process job applications, and provide customer support.
• To Facilitate Payment: To use your banking information to pay you for work performed through the Website.
• Tax Compliance: To use your SIN and other relevant information to generate required Canadian tax documents (e.g., T4, T4A) and comply with applicable tax laws.
• To Share with Construction Company Managers: To share your Personal Information and Employment-Related Information (but not your SIN or banking information) with construction company managers who are registered users of the Website. This is necessary for them to evaluate your suitability for job opportunities.
• To Communicate With You: To send you information about your job applications, payment confirmations, Website updates, and other relevant communications. We will obtain your consent for any marketing communications, as required by Canadian anti-spam legislation (CASL).
• To Improve Our Website: To analyze usage patterns, troubleshoot technical issues, and improve the overall functionality and user experience of the Website.
• To Comply with Legal Obligations: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests, including requests from law enforcement or regulatory bodies in Canada.

4. Disclosure of Your Information

We will not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We will only disclose your information in the following circumstances:

• Construction Company Managers: As described above, we will share your Personal Information and Employment-Related Information (but not your SIN or banking information) with construction company managers registered on the Website. This is essential for the core function of the Website. By using the Website, you explicitly consent to this sharing.
• Service Providers: We may use third-party service providers in Canada to assist us in operating the Website and providing our services (e.g., hosting providers, payment processors, email service providers). These service providers will have access to your information only to the extent necessary to perform their functions and are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information in compliance with PIPEDA and, where applicable, FIPPA. We will not use service providers for your SIN or banking information, other than to process your payment and file tax documents. We will prioritize using Canadian service providers.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to (a) comply with a legal obligation under Canadian or Manitoba law, (b) protect and defend our rights or property, (c) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of the Website or the public, or (d) protect against legal liability.
• Aggregated Data: We may disclose aggregated, anonymized information about users (information that does not identify any individual) for analysis, reporting, or other business purposes.

5. Data Security

We take the security of your information seriously and implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect it from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. These measures include [Describe specific security measures, e.g., data encryption (specify type, e.g., TLS/SSL), secure servers located in Canada, access controls, regular security audits, employee training on privacy and security]. We strive to comply with industry best practices for data security. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, while we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Under PIPEDA and, where applicable, FIPPA, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, subject to certain exceptions under the law.
• Correction: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information we hold about you.
• Deletion/Erasure: You have the right to request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions (e.g., we may need to retain certain information for legal or accounting purposes, or to comply with record-keeping obligations).
• Withdrawal of Consent: Where we rely on your consent to process your personal information (e.g., for sharing with construction managers), you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawing consent to share information with Construction Company Managers will mean you will not be able to be connected with them via our website. You can withdraw consent for other uses by contacting us.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at miikahnahconnect@gmail.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days, as required by PIPEDA. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request.

7. Data Retention

We will retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. We will retain your SIN and banking information only as long as is necessary to process payments and comply with Canadian tax laws and regulations (generally, for a period of 6 years after the end of the relevant tax year). We will establish and follow procedures for the secure destruction or anonymization of personal information that is no longer required. We will put in place processes to de-identify or remove user data, including Indigenous identity data, once it has been determined that the data is no longer required.

8. Third-Party Websites

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Website is not intended for children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will take steps to delete such information.

10. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post any changes on this page and update the "Last Updated" date at the top. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. We will provide more prominent notice (e.g., email notification) for significant changes, and obtain your consent where required by law.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Miikana Connect LP
Swan Lake First Nation
195-300 Alpine Way
Headingley, Manitoba R4H 0E1