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Indigenous Land Acknowledgment • Privacy Policy • Terms & Conditions
HWCL acknowledges that our work takes place on acknowledges the Songhees, Esquimalt, Tsartlip/W̱JOȽEȽP, Tseycum/WSIḴEM, Tsawout/SȾÁUTW, Pauquachin/BOḰEĆEN, T’Sou-ke, Scia’new and Pacheedaht Nations who have a historical and ongoing relationship to the land where our offices and work are based.
We also respect the wide diversity of nations and languages across the province. British Columbia is home to more than 200 First Nations communities and approximately 50% of the First Peoples’ languages of Canada. For more information visit: https://maps.fpcc.ca/.
HWCL also recognizes its own responsibilities when it comes to data. Measurement, mapping, and data have historically been used in support of colonizing Indigenous lands, resources, and peoples—from surveying land for Britain, France and Canada, to experiments carried out in residential schools without Indigenous families’ knowledge or consent, to using statistics to perpetuate harmful stereotypes of Indigenous people today. We acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past and dedicate ourselves to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous peoples in a spirit of truth, reconciliation, and collaboration.
At the Community Social Planning Council (“CSPC”), we are committed to providing our clients with safe and effective services. Providing our services involves the collection, use and disclosure of some personal information about our clients; therefore, protecting their personal information is one of our highest priorities.
While we have always respected the privacy of our clients and safeguarded their personal information, we have strengthened our commitment to protecting personal information as a result of British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (“PIPA”). PIPA, which came into effect on January 1, 2004, sets out the ground rules for how B.C. businesses and not-for-profit organizations may collect, use, and disclose personal information.
We will inform our clients of why and how we collect, use, and disclose their personal information, obtain their consent where required, and only handle their personal information in a manner that a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances.
This Personal Information Protection Policy (“Policy”), in compliance with PIPA, outlines the principles and practices we will follow in collecting, storing, and protecting our clients’ personal information. Our privacy commitment includes ensuring the accuracy, confidentiality, and security of our clients’ personal information and allowing them to request access to, and correction of, their personal information.
This policy also applies to any programs administered by CSPC and any service providers (i.e., client’s social service partners) collecting, using, or disclosing personal information on behalf of CSPC.
Client – an individual who seeks CSPC programs or services
Client Identification Materials, or Client ID – any form of an officially issued, governmental document that conclusively states or confirms information relating to a client’s identity, biographical background or details, or other basic information.
Personal Information – information about an identifiable individual, such as name, home address, home phone number, email address, license numbers, place of birth, immigration status, biographic data, appearance, ethnic identity, unique marks, and/or family names and history. Personal information does not include contact information (described below).
Contact information – information that would enable an individual to be contacted in keeping with the services sought, and includes name, position name or title, business telephone number, address, email, or fax number. Contact information is not covered by this policy or PIPA.
Privacy Officer – means the individual designated with responsibility for ensuring that CSPC and any of its programs complies with this policy and PIPA. In our documents we call this role the “Information Security Lead.”
Privacy Policy – means this document, and includes any revisions to it from time to time.
Key roles and responsibilities for the protection of CSPC’s information resources, including personal information of its clients, are listed below:
1.1. CSPC may collect and keep certain personal information in assisting its clients in applying for, obtaining, and storing client identification materials, specifically each client’s
1.2. Unless the purposes for collecting the personal information are obvious and the client voluntarily provides their personal information for those purposes, CSPC will communicate the purposes for which personal information is being collected, either orally or in writing, before or at the time of collection.
1.3. CSPC will only collect client information that is necessary to fulfil the following purposes:
2.1 CSPC will obtain client consent to collect, use or disclose personal information (except where, as noted below, CSPC is authorized to do so without consent).
2.2 Consent can be provided to CSPC in writing, by email, by completing a form, through an authorized representative (i.e., a support individual personally accompanying the client). Consent can also be implied where the purpose for collecting using or disclosing the personal information would be considered obvious and the client voluntarily provides personal information for that purpose.
2.3 Clients can withhold or withdraw their consent for CSPC to use their personal information in certain ways.
2.3.1 There are certain exceptions, however; and examples of exceptions to a client’s ability to withhold or withdraw consent may include, e.g., the personal information is necessary to provide a service, or the withdrawal of consent would frustrate the performance of a legal obligation such as fulfilling a statutory or regulatory obligation.
2.3.2 A client’s decision to withhold or withdraw their consent to certain uses of personal information may restrict CSPC’s ability to provide a particular service or information, and may not apply retroactively.
2.3.3 If so, we will explain the situation to assist the client in making an informed decision.
2.4 CSPC may collect, use, or disclose personal information without the client’s knowledge or consent in the following limited circumstances:
3.1 CSPC will only use or disclose client personal information where necessary to fulfill the purposes identified at the time of collection, or for a purpose reasonably related to those purposes, such as
3.2 CSPC will not use or disclose client personal information for any additional purpose unless CSPC obtains consent to do so.
3.3 CSPC will not sell client lists or personal information to other parties.
4.1 If CSPC uses client personal information to make a decision that directly affects the client, CSPC will retain that personal information for at least one year so that the client has a reasonable opportunity to request access to it.
4.2 Subject to policy 4.1, CSPC will retain client personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the identified purposes or a legal or business purpose, and as required by applicable law.
5.1 CSPC will make reasonable efforts to ensure that client personal information is accurate and complete where it may be used to make a decision about the client or disclosed to another organization.
5.2 Clients may request correction to their personal information in order to ensure accuracy and completeness. A request to correct personal information must be made in writing to the Privacy Officer and must provide sufficient detail to identify the personal information and the correction being sought.
5.3 If the personal information is demonstrated to be inaccurate or incomplete, CSPC will correct the information as required. CSPC will consider whether to send the corrected information to any organization to which CSPC disclosed the personal information in the previous year. If the correction is not made, CSPC will note the client’s correction request in the client’s file.
6.1 CSPC is committed to ensuring the security of clients’ personal information in order to protect against unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, copying, modification, or disposal or similar risks.
6.2 CSPC will implement and follow traditional security measures to ensure that client personal information is appropriately protected:
6.3 CSPC will also implement and follow informational and technological security measures to ensure that client personal information is appropriately protected:
6.4 CSPC will audit and periodically update its informational and technological security measures as information threats evolve over time, with accompanying training for its staff as may be appropriate. Information security threats evolve, as will the responsibilities, rights, and duties of CSPC personnel.
6.4.1 CSPC will provide security awareness training to all personnel at induction and at a minimum on an annual basis. Occasional training will be provided on a more frequent basis, if necessary, and / or on a specific security threat.
6.4.2 On an ongoing basis, CSPC will:
6.5 All personnel are required to identify and raise potential issues immediately with their supervisor and/or the Information Security Lead. Examples of issues which should be raised include
6.6 CSPC will use appropriate security measures when destroying a client’s personal information such as shredding and deleting electronically stored information.
6.7 CSPC will continually review and update our security policies and controls as technology changes to ensure ongoing personal information security.
7.1 Clients have a right to access their own personal information, subject to limited exceptions (see section 23 of PIPA):
7.2 A request to access personal information must be made in writing, and it must provide sufficient detail to identify the personal information being sought. A request to access personal information should be forwarded to the Information Security Lead or designated individual.
7.3 Upon request, CSPC will also tell its clients how CSPC uses their personal information and to whom it has been disclosed, if applicable.
7.3.1 Except as otherwise allowed under applicable law, CSPC will make the information requested under Policy 7.3 available within 30 business days, Community Social Planning Council Page 9 of 9, or CSPC will provide written notice of an extension where additional time may be required to fulfill the request.
7.4 Except as otherwise allowed under applicable law, CSPC reserves a right to charge a fee to cover its costs for providing access to a client’s personal information. Where a fee may apply, CSPC will inform the client of the cost and request further direction from the client on whether or not CSPC should proceed with the request.
7.5 If a request of a client to access their own personal information is refused in full or in part, CSPC will notify the client in writing, providing the reasons for refusal and the recourse available to the client, if any.
8.1 The Information Security Lead is responsible for ensuring CSPC’s compliance with this policy and the Personal Information Protection Act.
8.2 Clients should direct any complaints, concerns or questions regarding CSPC’s compliance in writing to the Information Security Lead. If the Information Security Lead is unable to resolve the concern, the client may also write to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia.
8.3 Contact information for CSPC’s Information Security Lead will be provided to any client of CSPC upon request.
Barry Hutchinson, Director of Finance and Operations: finance@communitycouncil.ca
REFERENCES
Family Day Factsheet: No Family Left Behind 2024
/in NewsAs part of the Happiness and Wellbeing Lab project, the United Way South Vancouver Island and Community Council release an annual family day fact sheet. The fact sheet brings awareness that even though we may all be in the same storm, we are not all in the same boat. As we celebrate this BC Family Day, let’s make sure that No Family Gets Left Behind.
Greater Victoria Living Wage 2023
/in NewsThe Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria (CSPC) in partnership with the United Way Southern Vancouver Island has released the 2023 Living Wage for Greater Victoria, reflecting the hourly wage required for two working parents with two young children to meet their basic expenses. This figure accounts for government taxes, credits, deductions, and subsidies, based on a 35-hour work week.
The cost of living in Greater Victoria continues to climb, leading to another significant rise in the Living Wage.
Living Wage Trends
No Data Found
Women’s Day 2023 – the gender wage gap in the CRD
/in Economic Justice, Household ProsperityWomen in the Capital Regional District continue to earn less than men. The gap is larger for visible minority women and women with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Women annually earn between 30 and 85 cents for each dollar a white man earns.
When compared to previous data, the median income ratio of all other races/ethnicities increased in relation to white men, with the exception of white women, whose ratio showed a slight decrease.
Where does this gap come from?
For those who aren’t familiar, the gender pay gap refers to the difference in average earnings of people based on gender. It is a widely recognized indicator of gender inequities, and it exists across industries and professional levels.
Various intersecting factors feed into these income gaps—wage inequity, gender and culture specific norms, lack of childcare and caregiving responsibilities are just some examples. Women, and particularly visible minority women:
The Canadian Human Right Commission states:
How can we narrow the gaps in the Capital Region?
Conduct pay audits in your organization. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business provides exercises to conduct an internal audit. While it’s specific to the Pay Equity Act in Quebec, the questions can be adapted to other jurisdictions.
Support flexible work requirements. Women are often forced to choose between work, childcare, and other family commitments. A flexible schedule that eases in-office requirements can help.
Publish wage/salary information in job postings. Providing salaries up front keeps unintentional bias from creeping into the hiring process. Publishing a range allows room to negotiate based on education and experience while ensuring candidates have equal starting places.
Write your MLA and encourage them to pass provincial legislation that outline protections, processes, and remedies that require all BC employers to provide equal pay and to make the minimum wage a living wage (See the CSPC’s annual calculation for the living wage).
Victoria Gender Wage Gap by Race/Ethnicity in 2020
No Data Found
Notes:
Sources
Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0439-01 Employment income statistics by visible minority, highest level of education, immigrant status and income year: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts
Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0427-01 Employment income statistics by Indigenous identity and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts
The Gender Pay Gap in Canada
Family Day Factsheet 2023
/in Economic Justice, Household Prosperity, Social InclusionFamily Day is a day that allows us to be together, celebrate one another and embrace all that is good about those who enrich our lives. But, did you know that 1 in 15 families living in the Greater Victoria Region are living in low-income?
As part of the Happiness and Wellbeing Lab project, the United Way Southern Vancouver Island and Community Social Planning Council release an annual family day fact sheet. The fact sheet shows that even though we may all be in the same storm, we are not all in the same boat. As we look back on this year’s Family Day, let’s make sure that no family gets left behind.
This year’s factsheet drives home the fact that families are struggling with inflation and the high cost of living. This is causing a reliance on free food programs and increased challenges as pandemic-era funding ends and daily necessities become more expensive. In fact, between September and December 2022, demand for the food bank increased by 20%. Housing prices are squeezing families as well, with median house prices ranging from just over $850,000 in Sooke to over $1.7 million in Oak Bay. While house prices are deeply unaffordable, so is renting. Over 40% of renters in the region are in “core housing need”, a definition given to households that are spending over 30% of their income on housing.
No Family Left Behind is the most recent iteration in a series of fact sheets using data from the UWSVI and CSPC collaboration Happiness and Wellbeing Community Lab.
Download the report here
Greater Victoria Living Wage 2022
/in Economic Justice, Household ProsperityThe Living Wage is the hourly wage that two working parents with two young children must each earn to meet their basic expenses (including rent, child care, medical needs, food, and transportation), once government taxes, credits, deductions and subsidies have been taken into account. The Living Wage for our region is calculated annually by the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria (CSPC) and is based on a 35-hour work week. At $24.29/hour ($44,208 annually per parent), the 2022 Living Wage for Greater Victoria is a $3.83 increase from 2021. As those in the region can attest, the cost of living continues to soar.
View the report
List of living wage employers
Gender diverse couples in Greater Victoria
/in Health, Social InclusionCanada is the first country to collect and share data about gender diversity
Released on July 14, International Non-Binary Day, the 2021 Census data on gender diversity identifies Greater Victoria as being home to the most gender diverse couples in any Canadian metropolitan area.
Sources & Analysis:
Income disparity in Greater Victoria
/in Economic Justice, Household Prosperity, Social InclusionOn July 13, 2022 Statistics Canada released data from the 2021 Census that included a portrait of Canada’s families and households, and an income profile of Canadian households. This data update contained both good news and bad news for residents of Greater Victoria.
The good news? Incomes are rising for everyone from the lowest income levels (i.e. households with an income that is 50% or less of the regional median) to the highest (i.e. households with an income that is 120% or more of the regional median). As well, the median income in Greater Victoria is higher than the provincial median and very close to the national median.
The bad news? Incomes are rising more quickly for the people who are already making the most money.
Click image to view 2-page PDF
Sources:
Statistics Canada, July 13 Census data release: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/index-eng.cfm
Why data matters
/in NewsIn a world of increasingly divisive conversations about some of society’s biggest challenges, data can be a touchstone that creates common ground. Data that is carefully scrutinized for accuracy and analysed to minimize bias is often a place where people on opposing sides of a topic can say “okay, I accept that this information is true. What next?”
In many ways. the COVID-19 pandemic helped solidify our understanding of using data to guide public policy. Data dashboards flourished, both providing concern and easing fears, depending on the trend line. People without a statistics background began to read data more fully, looking not just for the big picture, but wanting to know how to act based on that data.
Similarly, the Happiness & Wellbeing Community Lab combines the use of quantitative research (i.e. larger quantities of data) with qualitative data (e.g. interviews with people who have experience of the topic at hand), mixes in some expert analysis, and uses the results to support conversations and to guide decision making.
Anti-racist data
Historically, data has been used to justify the marginalization and disenfranchisement of populations outside the seats of power. In particular, in Canada race data was used to support government programs that decimated Indigenous nations and peoples including the Indian Act and residential school system. The Lab works with First Nations and Indigenous organizations to work towards decolonizing data practices
The misuse of data is a concern. Numbers can be manipulated or chosen expressly to support a pre-existing idea. At the Lab, the use of external experts helps reduce that bias. The use of large, random sample data sets (e.g. Statistics Canada’s census releases) also helps to reduce manipulation.
Intersectionality
Further Reading
Confronting Racism with Data: Why Canada Needs Disaggregated Race-based Data. Edmonton Social Planning Council. February 2021.
“Why Data Matters: the purpose and value of analytics-led decisions.” Martyn Etherington for Forbes.com. October 2020.
About the Lab
/in NewsThe Happiness & Wellbeing Community Lab tells the stories hidden in the data, creates evidence-based documents, and hosts productive conversations related to Social Inclusion, Household Prosperity, Health, Climate Equity, and Economic Justice. Ultimately, the Happiness and Wellbeing Community Lab is about just that – making sure that changes to our communities are ones that promote total health, happiness and wellbeing. Learn more >
Family Day Fact Sheet: No Family Left Behind 2022
/in Economic Justice, Household Prosperity, Social InclusionA continuing pandemic, the chronic housing crisis, and mounting economic pressures — families in Victoria experience these and additional challenges in a variety of ways depending on factors such as race, household income, number of children, and time in the region.
How community organizations and policymakers can support families and their overall social, economic, and mental well-being and resilience in the region similarly varies.
The facts presented in this info sheet reveal where challenges continue to present themselves and point us in the direction of solutions.
Download a PDF of the No Family Left Behind Fact Sheet.