Section 29 — Privacy Act: Receipt and investigation of complaints

Subject to this Act, the Privacy Commissioner shall receive and investigate complaints from individuals who allege that personal information about themselves held by a government institution has been used or disclosed otherwise than in accordance with section 7 or 8; from individuals who have been refused access to personal information requested under subsection 12(1); from individuals who allege that they are not being accorded the rights to which they are entitled under subsection 12(2) or that corrections of personal information requested under paragraph 12(2)(a) are being refused without justification; from individuals who have requested access to personal information in respect of which a time limit has been extended pursuant to section 15 where they consider the extension unreasonable; from individuals who have not been given access to personal information in the official language requested by the individuals under subsection 17(2); from individuals who have not been given access to personal information in an alternative format pursuant to a request made under subsection 17(3); from individuals who have been required to pay a fee that they consider inappropriate; in respect of the index referred to in subsection 11(1); or in respect of any other matter relating to the collection, retention or disposal of personal information by a government institution, the use or disclosure of personal information under the control of a government institution, or requesting or obtaining access under subsection 12(1) to personal information. Nothing in this Act precludes the Privacy Commissioner from receiving and investigating complaints of a nature described in subsection (1) that are submitted by a person authorized by the complainant to act on behalf of the complainant, and a reference to a complainant in any other section includes a reference to a person so authorized. Where the Privacy Commissioner is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to investigate a matter under this Act, the Commissioner may initiate a complaint in respect thereof.