I'm no expert but - the Privacy Act is referred to as PIPEDA http://www.privcom.gc.ca/legislation/02_06_01_01_e.asp and one thing it says is this: Disclosure without knowledge or consent 7(3) For the purpose of clause 4.3 of Schedule 1, and despite the note that accompanies that clause, an organization may disclose personal information without the knowledge or consent of the individual only if the disclosure is (h) made after the earlier of (i) one hundred years after the record containing the information was created, and (ii) twenty years after the death of the individual whom the information is about; So the cemetery may be misinterpreting the Act, or being overly careful, but it says "may disclose" not "has to disclose". You might also want to read this http://www.rootsweb.com/~onapg/meetings.html (click the link at the end) Robin -----Original Message----- From: ontario-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ontario-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Sherri Sent: November 14, 2007 4:55 PM To: ONTARIO@rootsweb.com Subject: [ONTARIO] Cemeteries & the Privacy Act I called a cemetery today hoping to get a death date for someone born in 1864. They refused to give birth or death dates due to the "Privacy Act" but did tell me what date this person was buried and who they were buried with. I've run into this a couple times before, usually with the large city cemeteries. What exactly does the Privacy Act cover with regards to cemeteries? If the information being sought is on the headstone or in a cemetery transcript why the secrecy? And if the Privacy Act is trying to help prevent identity theft (a reason given by one cemetery I called), how does that work when you're seeking persons who were born well over 100 years ago?