legal
Cookie Policy
Effective date: October 1, 2026
This Cookie Policy explains the cookies and similar technologies used on financecanada.ca (the "Site"), operated by ITA Media Group Inc.
1. How we manage cookie consent
The first page you open never shows a cookie banner. From the second page of your visit, a banner lets you Accept all or Decline all optional cookies, or open Cookie Settings (this page) to read about each cookie and make your choice. Your choice is remembered for 180 days and the banner does not reappear once you have made it. You can change your choice at any time at the bottom of this page. Declining optional cookies does not prevent you from using the Site.
If you arrive through a professional's referral link before making a choice, the referral is held in a cookie that lasts only until you close your browser, so that the professional whose link you opened is the one introduced to you during that visit. The 180-day referral cookie described below is set only if you accept.
2. Cookie categories
Site functionality (necessary, not optional)
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| fc_consent | Remembers the choice you made in the banner, so it does not reappear and your choice is honoured. | 180 days |
| fc_pv | Counts to two, so the banner appears on your second page rather than your first. Removed once you make a choice. | Until you close your browser |
| Portal sign-in (sb-*) | Keeps a professional signed in to the broker portal. Never set for regular visitors. | The signed-in session |
Also in this category: cookies set by our payment provider, Stripe, during checkout for payment security and fraud prevention (described in its own cookie policy). Necessary cookies keep the Site working for you; they do not track you for marketing.
Functional (optional, can be declined)
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| fc_ref_mortgage_broker, fc_ref_insurance_agent, fc_ref_investment_advisor | If you arrive via a professional's referral link, attributes your visit to that professional so their profile is the one shown to you across the Site. One cookie per category; the most recent link you click wins and resets the duration. The cookie contains an identifier for the referring professional and nothing about you. | Until you close your browser; 180 days from the last click if you accept |
This cookie benefits the referring professional, who pays to be listed. If you decline, matching falls back to your location or postal code, and any referral match lasts only until your browsing session ends.
Analytics (optional, can be declined)
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics (_ga and related) | Measures aggregate Site usage, traffic sources, and page performance. The Google script does not load at all unless you accept. | Up to 2 years (set by Google) |
| fc_vid | A random anonymous visitor id that lets us count unique visitors, for example how many people a professional's shared link reached. Contains no personal information. | 180 days |
| OneSignal push notifications (browser storage and a service worker, not a cookie) | Delivers browser notifications if you accept analytics cookies and then opt in when asked. The OneSignal script does not load unless you accept. It stores an anonymous subscription id in your browser's storage and registers a service worker at /OneSignalSDKWorker.js so notifications can arrive while the Site is closed. | Until you unsubscribe or clear site data |
Advertising (optional, not currently active)
No advertising cookies are live on the Site. Any advertising cookies would be off by default and set only if you expressly opt in. We will update this section and, where applicable, request renewed consent before any advertising pixel goes live.
3. Managing cookies in your browser
In addition to the choice on this page, most browsers let you block or delete cookies through their own settings. Blocking cookies in your browser may affect features such as staying signed in, having your choice remembered, and professional matching.
4. Changes
We may update this Cookie Policy as our use of cookies changes, including when new categories (such as advertising) become active. Material changes will be reflected by an updated effective date at the top of this page. Questions about this Cookie Policy may be directed to our Privacy Officer at privacy@financecanada.ca.
Every cookie we can set
The complete list, kept in step with the site. None are advertising cookies, none are sold or shared, and the site works fully if you decline the optional ones.
| Cookie | What it does | How long | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| fc_ref_mortgage_broker / fc_ref_insurance_agent / fc_ref_investment_advisor | Remembers which verified professional referred you, so their card is the one you see. Set only when you arrive through a professional's shared link. | Until you close your browser — or 180 days if you accept analytics. | Functional (no consent needed for the session form) |
| fc_consent | Stores your Accept/Decline choice so we don't ask again. | 180 days. | Strictly necessary |
| fc_pv | Counts to two so the consent banner appears on your second page, not your first. Removed once you make a choice. | Until you close your browser. | Strictly necessary |
| fc_vid | A random anonymous id that lets us count unique visitors — for example how many people a professional's shared link reached. Contains no personal information. | 180 days. Only set if you accept analytics. | Analytics (consent required) |
| Google Analytics (_ga and related) | Standard GA4 usage measurement. The Google script does not load at all unless you accept. | Up to 2 years (set by Google). Only set if you accept analytics. | Analytics (consent required) |
| OneSignal push notifications (browser storage and a service worker, not a cookie) | Delivers browser notifications if you accept analytics and then opt in when asked. The OneSignal script does not load unless you accept. It stores an anonymous subscription id in your browser's storage and registers a service worker at /OneSignalSDKWorker.js so notifications can arrive while the site is closed. | Until you unsubscribe or clear site data. Only set if you accept analytics and opt in. | Analytics (consent required) |
| Supabase auth session (sb-*) | Keeps verified professionals and administrators signed in to the portal. Never set for regular visitors. | For the signed-in session. | Strictly necessary (signed-in users only) |
Referral links, plainly
When a verified professional shares a link with you, opening it sets a referral cookie so that professional is the one introduced to you on our tools. That works immediately, without any banner, because it only serves the link you chose to open. If you accept analytics, the connection is kept for 180 days; if you decline, it lasts until you close your browser.
Your choice
You haven't made a choice yet.