Privacy Policy

Who this applies to

Solve Canada operates civic reporting platforms across multiple municipalities. This policy applies to all residents using Solve Canada in any of the cities we currently serve: Kitchener, Milton, Mississauga, Ottawa, Peterborough, Toronto, and Waterloo. The same privacy practices apply regardless of which city you report in.

What we collect

When you create an account, we collect your email address and optionally your phone number (for SMS verification). This information is used solely for account authentication, security, and spam prevention. We do not send marketing emails, newsletters, or updates about your reports unless you explicitly subscribe.

Anonymous identity

Each account is assigned a random anonymous username made from Canadian animal and city names (e.g. "Falcon Victoria" or "Otter Muskoka"). This username is what appears publicly on your reports. Your real name, email, and phone number are never displayed on any public page.

What we share publicly

When you submit a report, only the issue details are made public: issue type, photo(s), description, location, and your anonymous username. Your email, phone number, and account details are never shared publicly, with your municipality, with ward councillors, or with any third party. Only Solve Canada administrators can access personal information, solely for support and security purposes.

One narrow exception: if you submit a "still there" report or reopen a report the city marked resolved, you are agreeing at that moment that the municipality may contact you through us to verify what you submitted. We share your contact details with the municipality only for that specific verification, only for that specific submission, and only because you consented when you submitted it.

What we send to your city

Reports submitted through Solve Canada are delivered by email to the municipality the report is in and, where applicable, to the relevant ward councillor. These emails contain only the issue details and location — never your personal contact information or real identity.

AI processing

Solve Canada uses AI to analyze photos and draft reports. AI is also used to automatically blur faces detected in photos to protect the privacy of bystanders. You always review and can edit the AI-generated report before it is submitted.

Infrastructure and open data

Solve Canada displays publicly available infrastructure data from municipal open data portals and from OpenStreetMap contributors. Each city's specific data sources and licences are listed on our Data Sources page. We do not modify the source data. Aggregate, de-identified statistics derived from reports may be used in our data products; your identity, contact information, photos, report text, and exact addresses never are.

What happens to your reports explains exactly what we collect, who sees it, and what never leaves the platform.

Data storage

Your photos and uploaded files are stored in Canada. Our application and database run on privacy-compliant infrastructure providers in the European Union, where GDPR applies. We take reasonable measures to protect your data.

Cookies

Solve Canada uses essential cookies for session management and authentication. We do not use advertising cookies, tracking pixels, or third-party analytics that identify individual users.

Your rights

You can request deletion of your account and all associated data at any time by contacting us.

Contact

Questions about this policy? Contact us.