Federal (Canada) privacy & access decisions

The parents of a 17-year-old dependent complained that they could not access their daughter's online dental benefit information from their group dental plan administrator. The administrator's policy required consent from individuals aged 16 or older before their information could be accessed by another plan member, even parents. The administrator defended its policy by citing PIPEDA's consent requirements, the lack of a national age of majority consensus, and the distinction between age of majority and age of consent. The policy was based on the Ontario Health Care Consent Act, which suggests 16 as an age for health care consent. The mother was satisfied with the explanation and understood that she could access her daughter's account if her daughter provided consent by sharing her password.

• Whether a dental plan administrator requires consent from a 17-year-old dependent to disclose her dental benefit information to her parents
• Whether the age of majority or age of consent impacts the requirement for consent under PIPEDA for minors