Privacy Policy

Effective Date of this Privacy Policy: September 1, 2011

This Privacy Policy explains how Hamilton Medical Research Group including its subsidiaries and affiliates, (together referred to as "HMRG") handles the personal information that you provide to us on Web sites controlled by HMRG which link to this Privacy Policy (together referred to as "HMRG Web Site(s)"). Unless otherwise specifically noted, this Privacy Policy does not apply to personal information collected from you offline, to HMRG Web sites that do not link to this Privacy Policy, to non-Canadian residents, or to third-party Web sites to which HMRG Web Sites may link. Your use of HMRG Web Sites is subject to this Privacy Policy.

Please read this Privacy Policy before using HMRG Web Sites or submitting personal information to us.

• What is "personal information" as used in this Privacy Policy?

  "Personal information" means information that identifies you or could be used to identify you and which is submitted to and/or collected by HMRG Web Sites. Examples of personal information include your name, your postal address, your e-mail address and your telephone number.

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• How does HMRG collect information online?

  HMRG collects information in two ways:

  Personal Information You Submit:
  HMRG collects personal information that you enter into data fields on HMRG Web Sites. For example, you may submit your name, postal address, e-mail address, and/or other information in order to receive information about various subjects, register for HMRG programs, contact HMRG customer service, or respond to HMRG surveys. To protect your privacy, you should not provide HMRG with any information that is not specifically requested.

  Passive Collection of Unidentifiable Information:
  HMRG Web Sites may collect information about your visits to HMRG Web Sites without you actively submitting such information. Unidentifiable information may be collected using various technologies, such as cookies, and web beacons. Cookies are small text files that are transferred to your computer's hard disk by a Web site. Web beacons (also referred to as GIF files, pixels or Internet tags) help HMRG recognize a unique cookie on your browser. Your Internet browser automatically transmits to HMRG Web Sites some of this unidentifiable information, such as the URL of the Web site you just visited and the browser version your computer is operating. Passive information collection technologies can make your use of HMRG Web Sites easier by allowing HMRG to provide better service, customize HMRG Web Sites based on consumer preferences, compile statistics, analyze trends, and otherwise administer and improve HMRG Web Sites. Certain features of HMRG Web Sites may not work without use of passive information collection technologies. Information collected by these technologies cannot be used to identify you without additional identifiable information and HMRG will not connect additional identifiable information with information collected through the use of such tracking technologies. With respect to limiting or disabling tracking technology please see below "What choices do I have about how HMRG collects and uses personal information about me?".

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• What choices do I have about how HMRG collects and uses personal information about me?

  You may always limit the amount and type of personal information that HMRG receives about you by choosing not to enter any personal information into forms or data fields on HMRG Web Sites. Some of our online services can only be provided to you if you provide us with appropriate personal information. Other parts of HMRG Web Sites may ask whether you wish to opt into our contact lists for offers, promotions and additional services that may be of interest to you.

  You may also be provided with preference questions or preference boxes allowing you to indicate that you do not want HMRG Web Sites to use tracking technologies, such as cookies, to "remember" your personal information, such as user IDs or mailing addresses, on return visits. However, HMRG Web Sites that use tracking technologies to collect unidentifiable information do not generally provide you with the ability to opt out of the tracking technologies. Some Internet browsers allow you to limit or disable the use of tracking technologies that collect unidentifiable information.

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• Who will have access to personal information about me?

  Personal information can be accessed by a restricted number of HMRG employees, by certain companies with which HMRG may conduct joint programs, and by third parties with whom HMRG contracts to carry out business activities for HMRG. We train our employees about the importance of privacy and how to handle and manage customer data appropriately and securely. Also, it is HMRG's practice to seek your consent where required by applicable law if you are registering for a program which is conducted in conjunction with another company that may require access to your personal information. In addition, HMRG's practice is to require its contractors to keep your personal information confidential and to use your personal information only to perform functions for HMRG.

  HMRG may transfer your personal information to a country other than your own. Personal information stored in another jurisdiction is subject to the laws of that country and these laws may not provide the same protections as the country where you reside. For example, personal information that is transferred to and stored in the U.S. may be available to the U.S. government or its agencies under a lawful order made in that country.

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• Does HMRG share personal information with third parties?

  Except as otherwise stated in this section, HMRG will not transfer your personal information to third parties unless you have been provided with an opportunity to opt into this disclosure. HMRG may disclose your personal information without your opt-in to third party service providers which assist us with our business activities. It is HMRG's practice to require such third party service providers to keep your personal information confidential and to use your personal information only to perform functions for HMRG and in accordance with HMRG's instructions. HMRG further reserves the right to disclose your personal information to respond to authorized information requests from government authorities or when otherwise required by law.

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• How does HMRG secure personal information?

  It is HMRG's practice to secure each HMRG Web Site that collects personal information; however, the confidentiality of personal information transmitted over the Internet cannot be guaranteed. We urge you to exercise caution when transmitting personal information over the Internet. HMRG cannot guarantee that unauthorized third parties will not gain access to your personal information; therefore, when submitting personal information to HMRG Web Sites, you must weigh both the benefits and the risks. In addition, HMRG Web Sites may provide links to third-party Web sites which are not controlled by HMRG. You should check the privacy policies of such third-party Web sites before submitting personal information as HMRG is not responsible for their policies and privacy practices.

  Please remember that if you post any of your personal information in public areas of HMRG Web Sites, such as an online forum or chat room, this information may be collected and used by others over whom HMRG has no control. Use caution when posting personal information in these public forums. HMRG is not responsible for the use made by third parties of information you post or otherwise make available in public areas of any HMRG Web Site.

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• How may I access or correct personal information or delete it from current customer records?

  You may request access to your personal information which is held by HMRG at any time. With your support, HMRG will keep personal information accurate and up-to-date. You may request to remove, amend or correct your personal information. Please notify us of your wishes by contacting us in one of the ways specified below.

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• How long will HMRG store personal information?

  In general, HMRG will only store your personal information for as long as it is needed to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, subject to applicable data retention periods imposed upon HMRG by applicable law.

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• How can I contact HMRG?

  If you have questions about the scope, use, amendment, or deletion of personal information that you have provided to us, or if you would like to opt out of future communications from an HMRG business or a particular HMRG program, please contact us by clicking on the "Contact Us" link on the HMRG Web Site you are visiting or by e-mailing us at webmaster@hmrg.org. Alternatively, you may send a letter to the following address:

  Hamilton Medical Research Group
  700 Main Street East
  Hamilton, ON L87 1K7

  In all communications to HMRG, please include the e-mail address used for registration (if applicable), the HMRG Web Site address on which you provided any personal information about which you have questions or concerns (e.g. HMRG.org etc.), and a detailed explanation of your request. If you would like to delete, amend or correct your personal information and are contacting us by e-mail, please put "Deletion Request" or "Amendment/Correction Request", as applicable, in the subject line of the e-mail. We will do our best to respond to all reasonable requests in a timely manner.

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• How will I know whether HMRG has updated this Privacy Policy?

  If HMRG changes its privacy practices, an updated version of this Privacy Policy will reflect those changes and we will notify you of such changes by updating the effective date at the top of this Privacy Policy. Without prejudice to your rights under applicable law, HMRG reserves the right to amend this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect technological advancements, legal and regulatory changes and good business practices.

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