Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Paper and Thatch. We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of the personal information of our users in Edmonton and across Canada. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and disclose personal information when you visit our website, use our financial calculators (Mortgage vs. Investment), or interact with our content regarding debt management and investment strategies.

By using our services, you consent to the data practices described in this policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please refrain from using our digital platforms.

2. Legal Framework

As an entity operating in Edmonton, Alberta, Paper and Thatch complies with the following primary legislative acts regarding data protection:

• PIPA (Personal Information Protection Act): Alberta's provincial legislation governing the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by private sector organizations.
• PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act): The federal Canadian law that applies to the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information in the course of commercial activities.
• CASL (Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation): Governing the sending of commercial electronic messages.

3. Personal Data We Collect

We may collect several types of information from and about users of our website, including:

• Identity Data: Name, title, and demographic information if provided through contact forms.
• Contact Data: Email address, phone number, and mailing address.
• Financial Inputs: Information you enter into our mortgage vs. investment calculators (e.g., loan amounts, interest rates, expected investment returns). Note: We do not store specific financial accounts or SIN numbers.
• Technical Data: Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plug-in types, operating system, and platform.
• Usage Data: Information about how you use our website, products, and services, including the "Mortgage Interest Calculation Manual" or "Investment Returns" pages.

4. How We Use Your Data

Paper and Thatch processes your personal information based on the following legal grounds: your consent, the performance of a contract, or our legitimate business interests. Purposes include:

• To provide the financial modeling results and case studies requested by you.
• To improve our website functionality and user experience (UX) based on Edmonton housing market trends.
• To communicate updates regarding "Tax Efficiency Manual" or "Prepayment Strategies" if you have opted into our newsletter.
• To protect against fraud and ensure the security of our website.
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations under Alberta and Canadian law.

5. Data Retention

We will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. To determine the appropriate retention period, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use, and applicable legal requirements.

6. Third-Party Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties. We may share your information with:

• Service Providers: Third-party vendors who provide IT and administration services, such as hosting providers or analytics services (e.g., Google Analytics).
• Professional Advisers: Including lawyers, bankers, auditors, and insurers based in Canada.
• Law Enforcement: When required by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities in Edmonton or federal agencies.

7. Your Rights Under PIPA/PIPEDA

Under Canadian law, you have significant rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: You can request that we correct any incomplete or inaccurate data.
• Withdrawal of Consent: Where we rely on consent to process your data, you may withdraw it at any time.
• Challenging Compliance: You have the right to address a challenge concerning compliance with the above principles to our Privacy Officer.

To exercise these rights, please contact us via the details provided in Section 9.

8. Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users. This helps us provide a better experience when you browse our "Edmonton Housing Market Statistics" or "Financial Risk Assessment Protocols" pages. You can set your browser to refuse all or some cookies, but this may render some parts of the site inaccessible.

For more details, please visit our Cookie Policy.

9. Contact Information

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

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to make a complaint to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC).