Minister ‘deeply concerned’ by possible privacy breach at Alberta Supports

A potential privacy breach related to names, Social Insurance Numbers and financial information of people using Alberta Supports resources has spurred the government to contact 86 residents Friday after a USB stick with client information was reported missing Sept. 1.

The Ministry of Human Services says it’s reaching out to the affected clients by telephone Friday “whose personal information was unaccountable for a 24-hour period.” There will also be follow-up information sent by mail.

Alberta Supports clients who don’t get a call are not affected, it said.

“I am deeply concerned by this potential privacy breach resulting from a lapse in training practices,” Minister Irfan Sabir said in a statement.

“I want to assure all Albertans that we will work with them to address any potential concerns this may cause and we will be re-visiting our practices to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

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The statement said a group of Alberta Supports staff in training were given USB sticks containing client information. One of those USB sticks was in the possession of trainee and was “briefly unaccountable.” That trainee is no longer employed by the government.

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The ministry said the stick was located and returned within a 24-hour period.

“All 79 USB sticks have been accounted for and information has been deleted,” reads the statement sent Friday.

The clients are encouraged to call their financial institutions, monitor financial transactions and mail and ask for a free statement of benefits paid from Alberta Health Services.

Human Services press secretary Aaron Manton said they haven’t been contacted with any complaints to date.

The department of Human Services is offering to cover the costs of credit-monitoring services as a “precaution.”

The statement said the Information and Privacy Commissioner was contacted as soon as the department became aware of the risk.

Alberta Supports connects residents in the province with information and access to about 120 social-based supports offered by Human Services and Health in person, by phone and online.