Privacy Policy

Port Hope website/social media terms of use

Every effort is made to ensure the information on the Municipality of Port Hope's website is timely and accurate however, due to circumstances beyond our control, information and dates are subject to change without notice. The Municipality of Port Hope offers no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the information on these pages. All such documents are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind and the Municipality does not make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results or reliability of the use of the materials on this website. The Municipality of Port Hope hereby disclaims all representations and warranties.

The Municipality adopted a Social Media Policy in 2021. For terms of use, please refer to the policy. 

For general questions, technical questions and information regarding this site, please contact the Communications division.  

Google Analytics and Google Signals

We use Google Analytics and Google Signals to analyze user behaviour on our website. Google Signals is a feature of Google Analytics that allows for collection of cross-device data from signed-in Google users. When a Google user has Ads Personalization turned on, Google Signals provides aggregated and anonymized insights into user behaviour across devices. This information may include end user location, search history, and data from other websites that partner with Google. Google Signals helps us understand how you interact with our website across multiple devices and sessions so we have an accurate account of the number of users who visit our website,  and what they find most useful.

You can opt out of Google Analytics and Google Signals by installing this opt-out browser add-on for Google Analytics. Users can also manage their Google Ads Settings to control the information used for personalized ads across devices.

Links to third party sites

Municipal logos

The Municipality of Port Hope logo and slogans are trademarks of the Corporation of the Municipality of Port Hope. Any reproduction of these logos and slogans, other than for municipal use, licensed programs of the Municipality of Port Hope or with the Municipality of Port Hope's expressed permission is prohibited. These include, but are not limited to the Corporate logo and any other graphic representation sanctioned by the Municipality.

Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All requests for use of Municipal data must be made through the Corporate Services Department and all authorized users must sign a data sharing agreement permitting specific use for a specific period of time and must be relevant to a municipal project, partnership or other activity authorized by Municipal Council.

For information regarding the Municipality of Port Hope's logo, slogans and their usage, contact the Corporate Services Department at 905-885-4544 or by email.

Providing personal information via Municipal website

The Corporation of the Municipality of Port Hope is committed to protecting the privacy of all visitors to our site. We have taken appropriate measures to protect and ensure the privacy of any personal information you provide. The Municipality is subject to the provisions of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection Act (MFIPPA) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). The Corporation of the Municipality of Port Hope will not, under any circumstances, use any information provided by visitors for any purpose inconsistent with the purpose for which the information was collected and shall be public information. Names and addresses shall be included and shall be shared as submitted as part of the public record and subject to MFIPPA provisions. Personal information such as telephone numbers and personal email addresses shall be not be disclosed in accordance with the provisions of MFIPPA.

Most of the information accessible on the Municipality's website does not require you to identify yourself. You may access it anonymously. However, the Municipality of Port Hope does collect personal information about you when you choose to provide it. We collect only as much personal information as is necessary to assist you in conducting business with the Municipality via the website. The only personal identifying information arising from your use of the Municipality of Port Hope's website is what you voluntarily supply. The Municipality does attempt to provide you with multiple "channels" for conducting business (ie telephone, walk-in, mail-in, and fax-in) in addition to the Municipality of Port Hope's website. If you have concerns about using the website to conduct your business with us, please be assured that there are alternate channels you may elect to utilize.

Personal information is collected to:

• Communicate with you regarding services that you have requested
• Meet legal and regulatory requirements
• Correct/change personal Information

If your personal information changes (eg. name, address, postal code, telephone number, email address etc.) or you no longer desire our service, the Municipality of Port Hope will endeavour to provide a way to correct, update or remove the information.

Use and disclosure of personal information

The Municipality of Port Hope is the sole owner of the information collected on the site. The Municipality does not use or retain personal information that you provide for any secondary purposes unless you have first been notified and your permission has been obtained. The Municipality of Port Hope will not sell, rent, share or otherwise disclose your personal information to any organization or individual outside the Municipality unless you are first notified and your permission is received, except in the following circumstances. The Municipality of Port Hope may disclose your personal information:

• To companies contracted to process your requests
• For law enforcement purposes
• For purposes of acting in an emergency to facilitate contact with your next of kin or friend if you become injured or take ill.

From time to time the Municipality's website may request information from you via surveys or ask permission to send you special offers. Your participation will be completely voluntary and you will have a choice of whether or not to participate. Any survey information will be used solely for the purposes of monitoring and/or improving the Municipality of Port Hope's services and products. If you choose not to participate, you will still be able to use the website.

Protection of personal information

The Municipality of Port Hope takes every precaution to protect your personal information on the website. We maintain security standards and procedures regarding unauthorized access to customer information to prevent unauthorized removal or alteration of data.

Information collected automatically

When you browse our website, some information may be collected and stored automatically. This may include:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address, assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
• Domain name
• The type of your browser and operating system you use
• The date, time and pages you visited and/or requested while on our website
• "Search terms" entered by website visitors

WiFi Terms and Conditions

By using our internet service, you hereby expressly acknowledge and agree that there are significant security, privacy, and confidentiality risks inherent in accessing or transmitting information through the internet, whether the connection is facilitated through wired or wireless technology. Security issues include, without limitation, interception of transmissions, loss of data, and the introduction or viruses and other programs that can corrupt or damage your computer.

Accordingly, you agree that the Municipality of Port Hope (Municipality) is NOT liable for any unauthorized access or damage to your computer or other devices that result from the transmission or download of information or materials through the internet service provided.

Use of the wireless network is subject to the general restrictions outlined below. If abnormal, illegal, or unauthorized behavior is detected, including heavy consumption of bandwidth, the Municipality reserves the right to permanently disconnect the offending device from the wireless network.

Examples of Illegal and unacceptable uses/behaviour

The following are representative examples only and do not comprise a comprehensive list of illegal and unacceptable uses/behaviour:

1. Spamming and invasion of privacy - Sending of unsolicited bulk and/or commercial messages over the Internet using the Service or using the Service for activities that invade another's privacy.
   
   
2. Intellectual property right violations - Engaging in any activity that infringes or misappropriates the intellectual property rights of others, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade secrets, or any other proprietary right of any third party.
   
   
3. Accessing illegally or without authorization computers, accounts, equipment, or networks belonging to another party, or attempting to penetrate/circumvent security measures of another system. This includes any activity that may be used as a precursor to an attempted system penetration, including, but not limited to, port scans, stealth scans, or other information gathering activity.
   
   
4. The transfer of technology, software, or other materials in violation of applicable export laws and regulations.
   
   
5. Export Control Violations.
   
   
6. Using the Service in violation of applicable law and regulation, including, but not limited to, advertising, transmitting, or otherwise making available ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, fraudulently charging credit cards, pirating software, or making fraudulent offers to sell or buy products, items, or services.
   
   
7. Uttering threats.
   
   
8. Distribution of pornographic materials to minors.
   
   
9. Child pornography.
   
   
10. High bandwidth operations, such as large file transfers and media sharing with peer-to-peer programs (i.e.torrents).
    
    
11. Obscene or indecent speech or materials.
    
    
12. Defamatory or abusive language.
    
    
13. Using the Service to transmit, post, upload, or otherwise making available defamatory, harassing, abusive, or threatening material or language that encourages bodily harm, destruction of property or harasses another.
    
    
14. Forging or misrepresenting message headers, whether in whole or in part, to mask the originator of the message.
    
    
15. Facilitating a violation of these Terms of Use.
    
    
16. Hacking.
    
    
17. Distribution of Internet viruses, Trojan horses, or other destructive activities.
    
    
18. Distributing information regarding the creation of and sending Internet viruses, worms, Trojan horses, pinging, flooding, mail-bombing, or denial of service attacks. Also, activities that disrupt the use of or interfere with the ability of others to effectively use the node or any connected network, system, service, or equipment.
    
    
19. Advertising, transmitting, or otherwise making available any software product, product, or service that is designed to violate these Terms of Use, which includes the facilitation of the means to spam, initiation of pinging, flooding, mail-bombing, denial of service attacks, and piracy of software.
    
    
20. The sale, transfer, or rental of the Service to customers, clients or other third parties, either directly or as part of a service or product created for resale.
    
    
21. Seeking information on passwords or data belonging to another user.
    
    
22. Making unauthorized copies of proprietary software or offering unauthorized copies of proprietary software to others.
    
    
23. Intercepting or examining the content of messages, files, or communications in transit on a data network.