Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how the Akbik for Mayor Campaign ("we," "our," or "us") collects, uses, stores, and protects your information when you visit akbik.ca ("Website"). By using this Website, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

a. Personal Information You Provide

When you voluntarily submit information through our forms (such as the contact form or volunteer sign-up form), we may collect:

• Full Name
• Email address
• Phone number (optional)
• Volunteer interests and activities you wish to participate in (e.g., requesting lawn signs, door knocking, hosting events)
• Any other details or messages you choose to provide

b. Financial Information (Donations)

If you choose to make a financial contribution to the campaign, your payment is processed directly by our third-party payment processor, **Stripe**. We do not collect, process, or store your credit card or bank details on our servers. Stripe collects and handles this financial data in accordance with their own Privacy Policy.

c. Non-Personal Information (Automatically Collected)

When you visit our Website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Referring website or search query
• Date and time of visit
• Clickstream data

This information is generally collected through cookies, analytics tools (such as Google Analytics), and similar technologies.

d. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, pixels, and similar tracking technologies to:

• Improve website functionality and performance
• Analyze visitor behavior and trends
• Personalize your experience
• Provide relevant campaign content and information

You can manage or disable cookies in your browser settings, but some features of the Website may not function properly without them.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for purposes including:

• Providing and maintaining our Website
• Managing volunteer requests and coordinating campaign actions (e.g., matching volunteer preferences, delivering lawn signs)
• Sending campaign updates, newsletters, or volunteer opportunities (in compliance with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation - CASL). You can opt-out or unsubscribe from these updates at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link or contacting us directly.
• Responding to inquiries or campaign messages
• Analyzing and improving Website performance and content
• Protecting against fraud, unauthorized transactions, and other illegal activities
• Complying with legal obligations, including Ontario's Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (which requires reporting contributor names and addresses for donations)

3. Sharing Your Information

We will never sell or rent your personal information to third parties, nor do we share your data with other political organizations or third-party marketers. We may share your information with:

• Service Providers (e.g., Web3Forms for contact form processing, Stripe for payment processing, and hosting services) who assist us in operating our Website and conducting campaign activities, under strict confidentiality obligations.
• Town of Milton & Election Officials: To comply with legal and compliance reporting requirements under Ontario's Municipal Elections Act, 1996, your donation information (including your full legal name, residential address, and contribution amount) will be filed with the Clerk of the Town of Milton. These filings are a legal requirement and become part of the public record.
• Legal Authorities: If required by law, court order, or other official government requests.

4. Third-Party Services

Our Website may include links to external websites or use third-party services (e.g., Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, embedded videos, social media widgets). These third parties may collect information in accordance with their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for the practices of these external websites.

5. Data Retention

We will retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes of the mayoral campaign and to comply with legal and reporting requirements under Ontario election laws.

6. Data Security

We take reasonable physical, electronic, and administrative measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission or storage over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights (Canadian Privacy Laws)

Under Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable Ontario privacy laws, you have the right to:

• Access, update, or request deletion of your personal data
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format
• Withdraw consent at any time (for campaign communications)
• File a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected].

8. Children's Privacy

Our Website is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have unintentionally collected such information, contact us so we can delete it.

9. International Data Transfers

If you are accessing our Website from outside Canada, your information may be transferred to and stored in a country with different data protection laws than your own.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with the "Last Updated" date revised accordingly. Continued use of the Website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

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