21°c A few clouds
10°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Ottawa to pay for credit protection after student loan recipients' info lost
Human Resources Minister Diane Finley (PAWEL DWULIT / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES)
OTTAWA -- Two weeks after admitting it had lost personal information of 583,000 student loan clients, the federal government has agreed to pay for six years of credit protection for the victims.
Human Resources Minister Diane Finley made the announcement this afternoon, although she noted there is no evidence the information has been used for fraudulent reasons.
"I want to reassure Canadians that we are serious about protecting their personal information," Finley said in a news release. "That is why we will provide potentially affected individuals with credit protection at no cost, which will flag their credit files and help detect any potential compromise of their personal information."
The information was compromised when an employee lost a portable hard drive containing the names, birthdates, addresses, social insurance numbers and outstanding loan amounts of 583,000 Canada Student Loan clients. The hard drive had been stored in a filing cabinet when the employee noticed it was no longer there.
The loss was only identified to management during the investigation of another privacy breach -- the loss of similar information of disability pension applicants that was stored on a USB memory stick.
To get the credit protection, people need to call the HRSDC call centre, 1-866-885-1866, and agree to let Canada pass on their information to Equifax
One woman whose information was on the hard drive said the latest development doesn't give her much comfort.
"I feel like they are in damage-control mode," she said. "I think it's the right thing for them to do at a minimum, but it's still a big deal."
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 50 articles for today)
Liberal Senate leader to argue Harper's office in contempt of Parliament
8:34 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- Male facing charges after gun fired in Exchange District
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- Justin Bieber's pet monkey becomes property of Germany after singer misses deadline
- Gay Archie character to kiss partner in Pop Tate's
- Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris evacuated after suicide inside the landmark church
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Police make grow-op bust
- Nearly 10 years after devolution, Southern Authority hasn’t created its own standards
- Bethania CEO put on leave during investigation
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- Man breaks world record by riding Ferris wheel at Chicago's Navy Pier for more than 48 hours
- Tornado leads CBS to pull season-ending episode of 'Mike & Molly'
- Doc's memoir portrays ERs as frantic, funny, frightening ... but never dull
- WAG's 100 Masters exhibit drawing more than art aficionados
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Fans' patience is rewarded at last: 'Arrested Development' will be reborn Sunday on Netflix
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Province removing red tape in alcohol sales
- Animals are animals, new ads say
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Manitoba's changing spiritual landscape
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Paul McCartney to play Winnipeg Aug. 12
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Retail sales in province see 2 per cent increase in February
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.