The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has ruled the British Columbia Ministry of Finance can collect taxpayers’ personal information under the Speculation and Vacancy Tax Act, the Vancouver Courier reports. To determine if property owners should pay the tax, they fill out a form requiring a social insurance number, email, birthdate and address. Opponents raised privacy concerns and question the future use of the data, while the ministry said it verifies property owner information. Adjudicator Erika Syrotuck, CIPP/C, ruled the data is “necessary for the program of administering the tax,” noting the information can be shared with the Canada Revenue Agency.
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