Privacy Policy
Draft. This policy describes how the app works today. It has not yet been reviewed by a lawyer and may change before launch.
Welcanada is a free app that helps newcomers settle in Canada. Welcanada for Business is the website where service providers list their business. Both are run by Welcanada ("we", "us"). Welcanada is operated from Ontario, Canada. The legal name of the operating company will be added here once its registration is complete. We follow Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and, for people in Quebec, Quebec's private-sector privacy law.
The short version
- We never ask newcomers for a SIN, passport, permit or immigration file number.
- Your profile and checklist stay on your phone.
- When you ask a business for a quote, we send your name, contact details and message to that business only, and only after you tick the consent box.
- We do not sell personal information.
What we collect from newcomers
| Information | Why | Where it is kept |
|---|---|---|
| Province, city (optional), status (for example permanent resident or student), arrival date (optional), checklist progress | To show guides and a checklist that fit you | Only on your device. Deleting the app or using More → Start over removes it. |
| A random app ID (anonymous sign-in) | To protect quote requests from spam and limit how many can be sent in a day | Our servers (Google Firebase) |
| Quote requests: your name, email and/or phone, message, province | To pass your request to the business you chose | Our servers, and shared with that one business |
| Counts of listing views and taps on call, email, website, reviews and "Open an account" buttons | To show businesses how their listing performs and to measure bank referrals. These are totals, not linked to your name. | Our servers |
What we collect from businesses
- Account: your email address and password (passwords are handled by Google Firebase Authentication; we cannot see them).
- Listing: business name, service, licence or registration number, provinces, cities, languages, description, phone, email, website and Google reviews link. Most of this is shown publicly in the app once your listing is approved. Phone, email, website and Google link are shown only on Pro and Featured plans.
- Billing: payments are processed by Stripe. Stripe collects your card details and billing address; we never see or store your full card number. We keep your Stripe customer and subscription IDs and your plan status.
- Quote requests sent to you and monthly listing statistics.
Who we share information with
- The business you contact receives your quote request. That business is independent from us and handles your information under its own privacy practices.
- Service providers that run the app for us: Google (Firebase hosting, database, sign-in and server functions) and Stripe (payments). Their servers may be outside Canada, including in the United States, so your information may be subject to the laws of those countries.
- Banks and other partners: when you tap "Open an account", you leave our app and go to the bank's own website. Some of these are affiliate links: we may be paid if you open an account. We do not send the bank your name or contact details.
- When required by law, for example a valid court order.
How long we keep it
- Quote requests: up to 24 months, then deleted.
- Business accounts and listings: while the account is open, and up to 12 months after it is closed.
- Billing records: 6 years, as required for Canadian tax records.
- Usage totals: kept as monthly counts with no personal details.
Your choices and rights
You can ask to see, correct or delete the personal information we hold about you, or withdraw your consent, by emailing us. We will reply within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our answer you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, or in Quebec the Commission d'accès à l'information.
Security
Information is sent over encrypted connections. Our database only lets each business read its own quote requests, and only our server can change listings, plans and leads. No system is perfectly secure; if a breach puts you at real risk, we will tell you and the Privacy Commissioner as the law requires.
Children
The app is meant for adults. Parents may use guides about school and childcare, but we do not knowingly collect information from children.
Contact and privacy officer
Privacy Officer, Welcanada
Email: vaanstec@gmail.com
Changes
If we change this policy we will update the date above. If a change affects how we use information you already gave us, we will ask for your consent again.