Under PIPEDA, what constitutes "commercial activity"?

Under PIPEDA, "commercial activity" is defined broadly to encompass any activities that are intended to result in commercial transactions. This includes selling, bartering, or leasing of goods or services for consideration. The essence of commercial activity is that it involves an exchange that is meant to yield a profit or economic benefit.

Choosing activities related to selling and bartering aligns perfectly with this understanding, as these activities are clearly intended to achieve a financial outcome. This definition enables the protection of personal information in transactions that are of a commercial nature, ensuring that businesses engage in practices that respect consumer privacy.

In contrast, options that discuss non-commercial fundraising, volunteer activities, or activities by government bodies do not fit the definition of commercial activity because they do not involve the intention of profit-making or the exchange of goods or services in a commercial context. Therefore, they fall outside the purview of PIPEDA’s stipulations regarding commercial activity.