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| Privacy
Policy
At Northstar, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of the personal information of our clients (individually, the “Client” and collectively, the “Clients”.) As financial service providers, we have a professional obligation to maintain in confidence information we receive within our role as a financial services provider. The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to advise you as to why we ask for personal information, how we use it, what safeguards we employ, and how to contact us with privacy-related matters. What Is Personal Information? In this Privacy Policy, “Personal Information” means information that is gathered in connection with an application, pre-approval, request for information for a mortgage(s) or loan(s) or other product through Northstar or Northstar affiliate and is provided to, or collected by, Northstar and its staff or by Northstar’s agents, associates, and affiliates on Northstar’s behalf (collectively, “Northstar”). Why Northstar Collects Personal Information Northstar collects and uses Personal Information for the following purposes: Provide mortgage brokering services to the Client and offer products and services best suited to their needs, including arranging and/or renewing loan(s)/mortgage(s), informing the client of group creditor insurance and other products offered or approved by Northstar or its affiliates that may be of interest to the Client; Checking Client credit worthiness through credit bureau inquiry and personal information agents who have information on a Client’s financial position. Advising Clients of the financial options, as well as, ongoing developments of the mortgage market and industry; Auditing the services provided to our Clients; Compliance with all municipal, provincial, federal and other applicable laws; and Such other specific purposes which are communicated to the Client by a member of Northstar before collection of such Personal Information. Except when otherwise permitted by law, we will only use a Client’s Personal Information for the purposes identified to the Client. When Personal Information is to be used for a purpose not identified, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure that new purpose is identified prior to use. How Do We Collect Personal Information? The Client is our main source of information. With the Client’s consent, we may also obtain information directly from a third party to help us determine your eligibility for various financial products and services. For credit matters, for example, it is essential that we know your financial worth as well as your credit record. We will also contact other lenders, financial institutions, credit bureaus and employers. Your consent is therefore important because without it, we will not be able to carry out the appropriate inquiries and it might be difficult for us to offer you the credit product you request. In most cases, your consent is given on the forms used for specific products or, from time to time, on a separate form. You will notice that the declaration of consent is clear and unambiguous. Consent Your provision of Personal Information to Northstar means that you agree and consent that Northstar can collect, use and disclose your Personal Information in compliance with this Privacy Policy. Northstar will not collect, use or disclose a Client’s Personal Information without the Client’s requisite consent, except in certain extraordinary circumstances. Such extraordinary circumstances shall include without limitation, when legal, medical or security reasons make it impossible or impractical to obtain consent or where it is otherwise in the best interests of the Client. The most common method we use to obtain a Client’s consent is by way of the Client’s consent as confirmed by the application. Where practicable, we may also obtain a Client’s consent through oral communications or other written documentation. Our Clients may withdraw their consent by written notice to us at any time, subject to any legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. A Client’s refusal to provide, or subsequent withdrawal of, his or her consent may affect Northstar’s ability to provide the Client with mortgage services. A member of Northstar will inform the Client of the implications of such withdrawal. To withdraw consent, a Client should contact the Chief Privacy Officer in writing at: Northstar
Courtiers Use and Disclosure of Personal Information We will use a Client’s Personal Information to provide financial advice and services to the Client, to administer our database, to include Clients in direct marketing activities and for the other uses described above under the heading “Why Northstar Collects Personal Information". Under certain circumstances, Northstar will disclose a Client’s personal information to third parties. Specifically, Personal Information may be used, shared and disclosed to, from, or with, the members of Northstar, witnesses in a litigation proceeding, experts retained on a Client’s behalf, private investigators, agents retained on behalf of a Client, credit reporting agencies, credit bureaus, as well as such other third parties as are necessary to facilitate the matter for which the Client has retained our office and provided its consent. Under certain circumstances Northstar may disclose Personal Information where: required
or authorized by law to do so, for example if a court issues a subpoena;
a Client has consented to the disclosure; when mortgage services by
Northstar are provided to a Client requiring us to give Personal Information
about a Client to a third party (for example, to a lender in a real
estate mortgage transaction) the Client’s consent will be implied,
unless the Client tells us otherwise; where it is necessary to pull
a credit bureau for purposes of processing a mortgage transaction; if
Northstar engages a third party to provide administrative or support services
to us (such as computer back-up services, shredding or archival file
storage) and the third party is bound by our Privacy Policy; protection
of Northstar’s best interests protection of public interests such as
the denouncement of criminal activity such as fraud or money laundering.
In all such cases, authorities are contacted and personal information
may be disclosed; if we retain a law firm(s) to act on our behalf for
any reason; or Limiting collection and retention of Personal Information Northstar limits the collection of a Client’s Personal Information to that which is necessary for the purposes identified in this Privacy Policy as same may be amended from time to time, or for any additional purpose identified to the Client before the collection of the Personal Information. As well, Personal Information is not used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was originally collected, except with the consent of the Client or as otherwise permitted by law. Northstar will retain Personal Information only for so long as it is needed to fulfill the purposes for which it was obtained and to meet our professional requirements as set out our governing regulatory bodies and/or any other legal requirement, statutory or otherwise, from time to time. Accuracy Northstar strives to ensure that a Client’s Personal Information is as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is used. Safeguards Northstar endeavours to maintain adequate safeguards to protect against loss, theft, unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification of Clients’ Personal Information in the care of the Northstar. Northstar uses various methods to safeguard personal information, including physical security, computer and electronic security, destruction of information no longer needed, and contractual protections with third party data processors. Protection Client lists are never passed on to third parties other than affiliated members of Northstar. When they are hired, our employees and agents must undertake to respect the confidential nature of client information. Only employees who need to view your file as part of their work have access to this information. Accountability and Openness Northstar is responsible for the Personal Information under its control and has appointed a Chief Privacy Officer to oversee our efforts to comply in all material respects with applicable privacy legislation and the terms of this Privacy Policy. The Chief Privacy Officer and those designated by the Chief Privacy Officer address and investigate questions or concerns regarding a Client’s Personal Information. Northstar will from time to time review and revisit privacy practices and this Privacy Policy. In the event of any material amendment, an appropriate notice will be posted on Northstar’s Web site. All updates and amendments to this Privacy Policy can be found at www.unitednorthstar.com Northstar Web site Our Web site may contain links to other sites, which are not governed by this Privacy Policy. On our Web site, like most other commercial Web sites, we may monitor traffic patterns, site usage and related site information in order to optimize our web service. We may provide aggregated information to third parties, but these statistics do not include any identifiable personal information. Communicating With Northstar We recognize that convenience and quick access to advice must be balanced with security needs. We use many different means to communicate with clients, some of which are more convenient such as e-mail. Our emails are sent with industry standard 128 bit encryption. Such encryption however does not guarantee privacy and security as encrypted messages can nonetheless be subject to interception and translation. If you do not wish us to communicate with you by e-mail, please speak with the consultant/broker/agent handling your matter about alternative arrangements. Questions If you have questions or comments regarding the management of your personal information, contact: Chief Privacy
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