A government department maintains a database of individuals who are participating in a program designed to allow easier access to a range of government services in a particular geographic area of the province. The individuals have voluntarily joined the program on the expectation that providing their name, age, address, phone number, and other personal information would benefit them because they would get better access to those government services.
A local business is conducting a survey of 40 to 50 year old people who seek government services in that same geographic area. The business is seeking to expand their services which in turn will bring economic benefit to the area. The business operator knows the government maintains this particular database and asks a friend of his in the government department for a list 40 to 50 year olds including their names and phone numbers.
The government employee considers the request. She knows it will be good for the local community and knows that some of her own family may benefit if the business expands its service. However, she is not an expert in the database or privacy rules, but remembers that there are certain rules that need to be followed. She tells her business friend that she will need to check to see if providing the list would be allowed.
| 1. | Would it be alright for the government employee to provide the list? |
| 2. | Could the list be provided if the government department received the consent of the individuals who appear on the list? |