September 2023

Summary of legislation

Section 53 of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Act sets out who the Minister may enter into information sharing agreements with and what information may be released.

Section 54 of the ODSP Act provides the authority for the Minister and the Director to share personal information in their possession that has been collected under the ODSP Act, the Ontario Works Act, the Family Benefits Act and the General Welfare Assistance Act with one another and with Ontario Works delivery agents.

Legislative authority

Sections 53 and 54 of the ODSP Act.

Summary of directive

The directive provides an overview of the information sharing authority under the ODSP Act.

The Data Strategy and Solutions Platform Branch of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is responsible for establishing information sharing agreements.

Intent of policy

To permit the exchange of information with third parties for program administration, law enforcement and research purposes subject to strict confidentiality and privacy criteria.

Application of policy

Several agreements have been signed with Ontario government ministries, other provinces and departments of the federal government.

Information Sharing Agreement

Other Ontario government ministries
  • Ministry of the Solicitor General
  • Ministry of Transportation
  • Ministry of Colleges and Universities (Ontario Student Assistance Program)
  • Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
  • Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Family Responsibility Office)
  • Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
  • Ministry of Finance
  • Ministry of Health

Other provinces
  • Alberta
  • Saskatchewan
  • Manitoba
  • Nova Scotia
  • Quebec
  • Interprovincial data sharing agreement

Federal government
  • Employment and Social Development Canada (Employment Insurance)
  • Employment and Social Development Canada (Income Security Programs-Old Age Security /Canada Pension Plan)
  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  • Canada Revenue Agency (Personal Taxpayer Information)
  • Canada Revenue Agency (Canadian Child Benefit/Ontario Child Benefit)
  • Statistics Canada
  • Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development, and Labour (Workforce Development Agreement)

Other
  • Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
  • St. Michaels Hospital (Partnerships with academics for research projects)
  • University of Toronto (Partnership with specific academic for research purposes)
  • College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
  • Ontario Public Guardian and Trustee
  • Legal Aid Ontario
  • Ontario Energy Board

To promote a consistent approach to the use, collection and disclosure of information, protocols are issued for each information sharing agreement. Regional Directors must ensure that agreement protocols are adhered to and that appropriate business practices are implemented.

Where no information sharing agreement exists, the collection, use and disclosure of information is limited to provisions set out in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.