1. Introduction to Cookies
When you interact with Homegrain's digital ecosystem—specializing in the comparative analysis of Line of Credit (LOC) facilities and traditional Credit Cards—we use "cookies" and similar tracking technologies (pixels, web beacons). These are small data files stored on your device that allow us to recognize your browser and remember specific information about your preferences in the Toronto financial market.
2. Categories of Cookies We Use
We categorize our cookies based on their function and purpose. Below is a detailed breakdown of how these technologies assist in your financial research.
| Category | Purpose | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Essential for the website to function, such as securing your credit inquiry forms and maintaining session integrity. | Session to 1 Year |
| Analytical/Performance | Allow us to count visits and traffic sources (e.g., Toronto-based IP clusters) to measure and improve our LOC comparison tools. | 24 Hours to 2 Years |
| Functional | Enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering your preferred currency or localized Ontario interest rate filters. | Up to 1 Year |
| Targeting/Marketing | Used to deliver advertisements more relevant to your credit profile and to limit the number of times you see a specific card offer. | 90 Days to 1 Year |
3. Detailed Cookie Inventory
Specific examples of cookies deployed on Homegrain include:
- _ga / _gid: Google Analytics cookies used to distinguish users and session data for our Toronto Financial Digest readership.
- LOC_Preference: Internal cookie that remembers if you are comparing Personal Lines of Credit versus Business Credit Cards.
- XSRF-TOKEN: A security cookie used to prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery on our financial strategy calculators.
4. Legal Basis for Processing
Under PIPEDA and the principles of "Meaningful Consent" established by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC):
- Implied Consent: For strictly necessary cookies required for the basic operation of our credit analysis platform.
- Express Consent: For analytical and marketing cookies. By clicking "Accept" on our cookie banner or continuing to navigate the site after seeing the disclosure, you provide express consent for these non-essential tracking technologies.
5. Third-Party Cookies
We may partner with third-party financial service providers or advertising networks (e.g., Google, Meta, or Toronto-specific lenders). These partners may set their own cookies to track the effectiveness of credit card offers or debt consolidation leads. Homegrain does not control these third-party cookies; we recommend reviewing the privacy policies of these third parties.
6. How to Control and Delete Cookies
You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies. You can exercise your preferences through:
- Our Settings: Use the "Manage Cookie Preferences" button on this page to toggle non-essential categories.
- Browser Controls: Most browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) allow you to block or delete cookies in their "Privacy" or "Security" settings. Note: Blocking all cookies may render our LOC calculators inoperable.
- Do Not Track (DNT): While we strive to respect DNT signals, there is currently no universal standard for how companies should respond to them.
7. Contact & Operator Information
For inquiries regarding this Cookie Disclosure or your data rights in Ontario, please contact the Homegrain Data Protection Officer:
Entity: Homegrain
Address: 250 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5H 3E5
Email: +1 (638) 150-6691