The provincial Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) came into effect January 1, 2004. All businesses are subject to PIPA, which regulates access to, and the collection, use, disclosure and protection of personal information.
If a business or individual contravenes PIPA it may lead to being convicted of an offence under the Act. If convicted, fines are up to $10,000 for individuals and up to $100,000 for organizations. The rules within the legislation are the minimum requirement of businesses.