Privacy Policy

Compliance with Quebec's Law 25 (An Act to Modernize Legislative Provisions as Regards the Protection of Personal Information) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

Last updated: June 2025

ESSORS Inc. (hereinafter "ESSORS", "we", "our") is committed to protecting the personal information of any person who interacts with our website essors.com or who uses our professional services. This policy describes our practices regarding the collection, use, disclosure and protection of personal information, in compliance with the Act to Modernize Legislative Provisions as Regards the Protection of Personal Information (Law 25, Quebec), the Act respecting the Protection of Personal Information in the Private Sector (Quebec) and PIPEDA (Canada).

1. Privacy Officer

The person responsible for the protection of personal information within ESSORS Inc. can be reached at:

2. Personal Information Collected

We collect the following personal information, only to the extent necessary for the purposes described in this policy:

Via the contact form:

  • First and last name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Organization name (optional)
  • Client type and services sought
  • Message content

Via website browsing (with consent):

  • Anonymized usage data (pages visited, visit duration) via Google Analytics 4
  • Device type, browser and operating system
  • IP address (anonymized)

3. Text Messaging (SMS) Information

When you contact ESSORS Inc. by text message (SMS), we collect your mobile phone number and the content of your messages solely to respond to your requests and follow up on your file. Information related to your SMS consent and your mobile phone number is never sold, rented, or shared with third parties for marketing or promotional purposes. You may opt out at any time by replying STOP. Message and data rates may apply.

4. Purposes of Collection

Personal information is collected for the following purposes:

  • Responding to your quote or information requests
  • Scheduling and conducting professional meetings
  • Improving the browsing experience on our website (with consent)
  • Fulfilling our legal and professional obligations as CPAs

5. Legal Basis for Processing

The processing of your personal information is based on:

  • Your explicit consent (contact form, analytical cookies)
  • The performance of a contract for professional services
  • Compliance with legal obligations incumbent upon ESSORS Inc.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website uses cookies to improve the browsing experience. In accordance with Law 25, we request your consent before placing any non-essential cookie.

Essential cookies (always active):

  • essors_cookie_consent — stores your consent choice (localStorage, not sent to a server)

Analytical cookies (with consent only):

  • Google Analytics 4 — traffic analysis with anonymized IP

You can modify your consent at any time by clearing your browser data or by using the cookie management banner.

7. Sharing and Disclosure

ESSORS Inc. does not sell, rent or disclose your personal information to third parties, except in the following situations:

  • Service providers necessary for our operations (e.g., web host Bluehost, Google Analytics 4 with consent)
  • Legal obligations imposed by a competent authority
  • With your explicit consent

8. Retention Period

  • Contact requests without follow-up: 12 months
  • Active client files: duration of the engagement + 7 years (in accordance with the requirements of the Ordre des CPA du Québec)
  • Anonymized analytical data: 26 months (GA4 default setting)

9. Your Rights

In accordance with Law 25, you have the following rights:

  • Right of access — obtain a copy of your personal information held by ESSORS
  • Right of rectification — have any inaccurate information corrected
  • Right to erasure — request the deletion of your information (subject to our legal obligations)
  • Right to withdraw consent — at any time, for purposes based on your consent
  • Right to portability — receive your data in a structured, commonly used format

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@essors.com. We will respond within 30 days of receiving your request.

10. Security

ESSORS Inc. implements appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration or destruction. These measures include: encrypted HTTPS connection (SSL/TLS), HTTP security headers (HSTS, CSP), restricted data access and ongoing staff training.

11. Privacy Incident

In the event of a privacy incident presenting a serious risk of harm, ESSORS Inc. will notify the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec (CAI) and the affected individuals within the timeframes required by Law 25.

12. External Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., Ordre des CPA du Québec, CCH iFirm portal). ESSORS Inc. is not responsible for the privacy practices of these sites. We encourage you to review their respective policies.

13. Changes to this Policy

We reserve the right to modify this policy at any time. The current version is always accessible at essors.com/en/privacy.html. The date of last update appears at the top of this document.

14. Contact Us

For any questions regarding this policy or your personal information:

You may also file a complaint with the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec (CAI) or the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

You may also view our accounting services, our service sectors, or contact us with any questions.