Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
The Ontario College of Family Physicians is committed to protecting the privacy of its website visitors and informing them of what information is collected from them and how it is used.
Privacy Policy
Voluntary information sharing
The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) does not collect information on its website that personally identifies individuals except when individuals provide such information on a voluntary basis, such as by completing an online form, registering as a user, or commenting on an article or discussion topic. Users’ explicit consent is required before collecting, using, or disclosing their personal information.
Email messages and web forms are not secure methods of information transfer, and site visitors should exercise caution in the information they choose to transmit. Please do not include personal health information of yourself or any other identifiable persons in any communication through our website.
Cookies
The OCFP website may use cookies to identify return visitors. A cookie is a small file that a website can send to the browsers of visitors’ computers or other devices and may then be stored on the device. This cookie means that when visitors return to the website, information can be tailored more readily to suit individual visitors’ preferences. Browser software allows the disabling of cookie collection if users wish or may inform users when a cookie is being stored on a user’s hard drive. Our use of cookies complies with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).
The operating and hosting systems of the OCFP website may record some information about site visitors, including, but not limited to, the types of information listed below. In addition, OCFP uses Google Analytics and related cookies to measure website activity. (See the Google privacy policy here.)
- The internal domain for visitors’ internet service provider and the IP address of the computer accessing the website.
- The type of browser visitors are using.
- The type of operating system visitors are using.
- The date and time of the visit to the website.
- The web pages that visitors viewed on the website.
- The previous website accessed by visitors (if referred to the OCFP website from another website).
- The geographic location from where the visit takes place.
Use of Website Information
The OCFP uses general website information for statistical analysis and to help tailor the website to its visitors.
Third Party Providers
From time to time, the OCFP may use third-party providers for services including, but not limited to, content management, newsletter distribution, surveys, and/or e-commerce. These services may also use cookies or similar technologies to measure effectiveness. Personal information such as names and email addresses may also be required to receive these services or related communications. As the Ontario chapter of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the OCFP may make use of its member contact information shared by the national college as outlined in the CFPC’s privacy policy.
When Exiting the OCFP Website
The OCFP website contains links to non-OCFP sites. Once visitors link to another site, they are subject to the privacy policy of the new site. Several of our pages direct visitors to the College of Family Physicians of Canada website. Its privacy policy is located at https://www.cfpc.ca/privacy-policy. OCFP encourages its visitors to read the privacy policies of all websites visited, especially if personal information is shared.
Website Terms of Use
Copyright
Unless otherwise indicated, the copyright for materials found on the Ontario College of Family Physicians website is held by the Ontario College of Family Physicians.
Please contact OCFP at ocfp@ocfp.on.ca for permission before reproducing materials for any commercial purpose.
Accuracy
While we take care to ensure that materials are accurately produced, all content is offered on an “as is” basis and may contain errors or omissions. The Ontario College of Family Physicians provides no warranty for the information provided.
Health Information
Any health-care information accessed by the public from this website is intended for general information should not be used in place of consultations with appropriate health-care providers.
Security Measures
OCFP implements robust security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, loss, or theft.
Access and Correction Rights
Users have the right to access their personal information and request corrections if needed.
Data Retention and Disposal
The OCFP retains personal information only as long as necessary for the identified purposes and securely disposes of information that is no longer needed.
Privacy Officer Contact Information
For privacy-related inquiries and complaints, please contact our designated privacy officer at ocfpadmin@ocfp.on.ca
Regular Updates
This privacy policy is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in legal requirements or organizational practices.
The last update was on January 30, 2025.