Date: July 9, 2026
From: Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
Subject: Updated guidance on information sharing when health or safety are at risk
Ontario’s privacy laws are not a barrier to sharing personal information when health or safety are at risk.
Today, on Children and Youth in Care Day, our office is releasing two updated resources for professionals in the child and family services, health, justice, and social services sectors:
- Sharing Information in Situations Involving Risk of Serious Harm: A Quick Guide for Professionals
- Yes, You Can. Dispelling the Myths About Sharing Information with Children’s Aid Societies
These resources clarify common misconceptions and explain when privacy laws permit sharing personal information when there is a risk of harm.
Injury or loss of life should never happen because of misunderstandings about privacy laws. These guidance materials were updated in response to a recommendation from a coroner’s review into a young person’s death, which found that gaps in information sharing across sectors prevented a coordinated response.
The IPC worked with external partners to update these important resources to clarify Ontario’s privacy laws and support responsible information-sharing in situations of risk of harm.
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