Privacy Policy

1. Introduction and Scope

Garden Chalk ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and disclose personal information in the course of operating our website and providing services related to home office tax deduction guidance in Edmonton, Alberta.

Our operations are governed by the laws of Canada and the province of Alberta. Specifically, we comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) at the federal level and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) of Alberta. This policy outlines our commitment to the ten fair information principles set out in Schedule 1 of PIPEDA.

2. Information We Collect

We collect personal information only when it is necessary for the purposes identified by Garden Chalk. The types of information we may collect include:

• Contact Information: Your name, phone number, and email address when you fill out forms or subscribe to our newsletter.
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, and browsing behavior on our site collected via cookies and similar technologies.
• Financial Context: Information regarding your home office expenses and employment status provided voluntarily through our calculation tools or inquiry forms to determine tax eligibility.
• Communication Data: Records of your correspondence with us for support or inquiries.

3. Purpose and Legal Basis for Processing

In accordance with Alberta's PIPA, we process your data based on your Consent (express or implied) or our Legitimate Interests. The purposes include:

1. To provide tailored information regarding CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) policies for home office deductions.
2. To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support.
3. To improve our website functionality and user experience.
4. To comply with legal and regulatory requirements under Canadian tax and privacy laws.
5. To send marketing communications, provided you have opted-in to receive them.

4. Data Retention

Garden Chalk retains personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the identified purposes or as required by law. For tax-related inquiries, we may retain data for a period consistent with CRA record-keeping requirements (typically six years) to assist you in the event of an audit, unless you request earlier deletion and legal requirements permit it.

5. Disclosure to Third Parties

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We may share your data with:

• Service Providers: Third-party vendors who assist with website hosting, data analysis, and email delivery. These parties are contractually obligated to protect your data.
• Legal Authorities: When required by law, such as responding to a subpoena or a request from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, sale, or reorganization of Garden Chalk.

6. International Data Transfers

While Garden Chalk is based in Edmonton, some of our service providers may be located outside of Canada (e.g., in the United States). In such cases, your personal information may be subject to the laws of those jurisdictions, which may offer different levels of protection than Canadian law.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Under PIPA and PIPEDA, residents of Alberta have specific rights regarding their personal information:

• Right of Access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right of Correction: You may request that we correct any inaccuracies in your personal data.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent to our processing of your data at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions.
• Right to Complain: You have the right to challenge our compliance with privacy principles by contacting our Privacy Officer or the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta.

8. Security Measures

We employ administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information to protect against unauthorized access, disclosure, or loss. This includes encryption of data in transit and restricted access to personal data within our organization.

9. Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies to enhance functionality. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings or by visiting our Cookie Policy. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the performance of certain features on our site.

10. Contact Information

To exercise your rights, ask questions about our privacy practices, or file a complaint, please contact our Privacy Officer at: