1. Terms & Conditions

While this website provides general information, it does not constitute legal advice. The best way to get guidance on your specific legal issue is to contact a lawyer. To schedule a meeting with a lawyer, remember to find a licensed lawyer. Click here to access the Law Society of Ontario's Lawyer/Paralegal Directory.

1.1 Acceptance

These Terms & Conditions govern your access to and use of the Sites. By using the Sites, you accept and agree to be bound by all provisions herein. If you do not agree, discontinue use immediately.

1.2 Amendments

We may revise these Terms at any time. All changes take effect upon posting. Continued use after modifications constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

1.3 Permitted Use

• Access and view Site Content for personal, non-commercial purposes only.
• Do not scrape, mine, reverse-engineer, or interfere with Site operation.
• Abide by all applicable local, provincial, and federal laws.

1.4 Intellectual Property & Third-Party Content

All trademarks, logos, service marks, text, graphics, and other content ("Site Content") remain the exclusive property of their respective owners. Your use of Site Content does not grant any ownership or license rights.

We disclaim all liability for any third-party intellectual property displayed on the Sites. Inclusion does not imply endorsement or affiliation.

1.5 Content Removal Requests

Owners of any proprietary material (e.g., logos, listings, program descriptions) may request removal by emailing [email protected] or [email protected]. Requests must:

• Specify exact content and URL;
• Include proof of ownership or authorization;
• Provide contact details for verification.

We will acknowledge within 5 business days and, where valid, remove the content within 10 business days. We assume no liability for delays due to incomplete or disputed requests.

1.6 Disclaimers & Warranty Exclusion

The Sites and all Site Content are provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE," without warranty of any kind, express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

1.7 Limitation of Liability

Under no circumstances shall EmergencyHousing.ca, OttawaHousing.ca, or their affiliates, officers, directors, employees, or agents be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Sites, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

1.8 Indemnification & Hold Harmless

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Sites and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to:

• Your violation of these Terms & Conditions;
• Your use of the Sites;
• Your infringement of any third-party rights;
• Your breach of any applicable law.

1.9 Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Sites, in whole or in part, at our sole discretion, without notice, for any reason.

1.10 Governing Law & Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada. Any dispute shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of Ottawa, Ontario.

1.11 Severability

If any provision of these Terms & Conditions, or any other policy on the Sites, is found to be illegal, unenforceable, or unconscionable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Email and Electronic Communications Disclaimer

All email and electronic communications from this website or its representatives, including the content of messages, attachments, linked materials, and resources, are intended for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice, whether expressly stated or implied.

No solicitor-client, fiduciary, or professional relationship is formed through the receipt or review of such communications. You should not act or rely on any information received via email or electronic message without first consulting a qualified legal professional.

Communications may contain confidential or privileged material and are intended solely for the intended recipient. If you receive a message in error, please notify the sender and delete the communication immediately.

We collect and use personal information provided in email or contact forms to respond to your inquiries, fulfill service requests, and improve our services, in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

By contacting us through email or electronic means, you acknowledge and agree to the terms of this disclaimer and all other terms, conditions, and stipulations contained on this page.

2. Terms of Service

2.1 Account Registration

To access certain features, you may register for an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information;
• Maintain confidentiality of your login credentials;
• Be responsible for all activity under your account.

2.2 User Content License

"User Content" means any text, images, or materials you submit. You retain ownership of User Content, but grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, and display it to operate and promote the Sites.

2.3 Unilateral Content & Account Removal

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion and without notice, to:

• Remove or modify any User Content;
• Suspend or terminate user accounts;
• Restrict access to any feature or the entire Sites.

Such actions may be taken for any reason, including violation of these Terms, illegal activity, infringement of rights, or behavior deemed harmful.

2.4 Service Modifications & Termination

We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Sites or Services at any time, without liability. Terminated users may not re-register without our express written permission.

2.5 Dispute Resolution

Any dispute under these Terms of Service shall be governed by Ontario law and resolved exclusively in the courts of Ottawa, Ontario, and be subject to a maximum award of $1 CAD.

Clients using EmergencyHousing.ca or OttawaHousing.ca indemnify and agree to hold harmless EmergencyHousing.ca, OttawaHousing.ca, CitrixIQ, and all Partners, Affiliates, and Agents.

2.6 Severability

If any provision of these Terms of Service is found to be illegal, unenforceable, or unconscionable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

3. Community Guidelines

We strive for a safe, respectful community. By contributing or interacting on the Sites, you agree to:

3.1 Acceptable Conduct

• Be respectful, courteous, and professional;
• Share accurate, relevant, and constructive information;
• Use appropriate language and tone.

3.2 Prohibited Content

• Harassment, hate speech, or discrimination;
• Illegal activities or instructions for wrongdoing;
• Spam, phishing, or unsolicited advertising;
• Defamation, threats, or invasion of privacy;
• Sexually explicit, violent, or graphic content;
• Malicious code, viruses, or hacking tools.

3.3 Enforcement

Violations may result in content removal, warnings, suspension, or termination of accounts, at our sole discretion. Report concerns to [email protected] or [email protected].

4. Privacy Policy

4.1 Scope & Compliance

We collect, use, and disclose personal information in accordance with Canada's PIPEDA, applicable provincial privacy laws, and where required by law or court order.

4.2 Information We Collect

• Provided Data: Name, email, phone, and other details you supply;
• Usage Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, cookies;
• Third-Party Data: From analytics and advertising partners.

4.3 Use & Disclosure

We use personal information solely to process your requests (e.g., referrals, assistance). We do not use it for marketing or profiling without explicit consent. We may disclose data to:

• Service providers and advisors under confidentiality;
• Law enforcement or regulators if required by law;
• Successors in connection with a merger or sale;
• We are mandatory reporters under the CYFSA, and in circumstances necessitating the activation of a Safety Plan, where disclosure is reasonable and implied to provide client safety;
• We may disclose your personal information to process your service request;
• Where a safety plan is established, it is implied that we may disclose your personal information, plan, emergency information, and other file particulars to emergency responders, partners, law enforcement, and other essential services such as private security or other response personnel.

4.4 Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance functionality and analyze usage. You may disable cookies via browser settings, but this may affect Site performance.

4.5 Data Retention & Security

We retain data only as long as necessary. We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or destruction.

4.6 Your Rights

You may request access, correction, deletion, or restriction of your personal information. To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected] or [email protected].

4.7 Access & Correction of Personal Information

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

• Request access to any personal information we hold about you;
• Challenge the accuracy and completeness of that information and request corrections.

To make a request, please email us at [email protected] or [email protected] with:

• Your full name and contact details;
• A clear description of the information you wish to access or correct;
• Any relevant proof of identity.

Response time: We will respond within 30 days of receipt. If more time is needed, we will notify you and may extend by up to an additional 30 days.

Fees: We do not charge for making a request. We may charge a minimal fee to cover copying costs.

Exceptions: In certain limited circumstances (e.g., solicitor-client privilege), we may refuse a request; we will explain any refusal in writing, citing the specific legal basis.

4.8 Severability

If any provision of this Privacy Policy is found to be illegal, unenforceable, or unconscionable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

5. Protected Client Alert Database (PCAD) Terms of Use

The Protected Client Alert Database (PCAD) is a secure system for managing and sharing critical information about high-risk Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Domestic Violence (DV) cases classified as Category 1 (CAT 1). It supports rapid response, client protection, legal compliance, and community safety.

For the complete PCAD Terms of Use Policy, including detailed terms and conditions, please visit: https://emergencyhousing.ca/ipv-dv-pcad-policy/

5.1 Overview

The PCAD system serves to:

• Provide authorized users (e.g., emergency services, case managers) with immediate access to actionable data for safety interventions.
• Safeguard vulnerable individuals through strict access controls and privacy measures.
• Comply with privacy laws (e.g., YCJA), court orders, and publication bans.
• Share redacted data publicly at https://emergencyhousing.ca/public-alerts/ to promote community safety.

5.2 Key Features

• Redacted Data: Includes Case Reference ID, general risk alerts, non-identifiable legal/safety measures, and case status updates. Excludes personal details, medical/legal records, and multimedia evidence.
• Unredacted Data: Restricted to authenticated users, includes full legal orders, risk assessments, and real-time alerts. Access requires vetting, multi-factor authentication, and a confidentiality agreement.
• Security: Access is logged, audited quarterly, restricted to approved devices, and sessions timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity.

5.3 Contact

For questions or concerns about the PCAD system, contact:

• Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
• Phone: 613-663-2399

5.4 Severability

If any provision of the PCAD Terms of Use Policy is found to be illegal, unenforceable, or unconscionable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

6. Accessibility Policy

We are committed to digital accessibility in accordance with the AODA and WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. We perform regular audits, provide ongoing training, and welcome feedback.

If you encounter accessibility barriers, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
• Phone: 613-663-2399

6.1 Severability

If any provision of this Accessibility Policy is found to be illegal, unenforceable, or unconscionable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.