Do I need ethics clearance for archival research?

The Tri-Council Policy states that REB review is not required for research that relies exclusively on secondary use of anonymous (not anonymized) information, or anonymous human biological materials, provided the process of data linkage or recording or dissemination of results does not generate identifiable information.

In the case of all other types of data (including anonymized or de-identified data), approval must be sought from the REB. In all cases, we advise you to contact the Office of Research Ethics and Security to confirm whether you need approval and if so, what steps to follow.