Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation protects consumers and businesses from the misuse of digital technology, including spam and other electronic threats. The Legislation, created in 2014, reinforces best practices for businesses who market to consumers using email and combats spam and related cyber threats.  

CASL has the potential to impact any individual or organization in Canada who sends e-mails, texts, social media messages or any other form of electronic communication to third parties, whether they are businesses, consumers or individuals.

• CASL prohibits the sending of commercial electronic messages (“CEMs”) in any form without the prior consent of the recipient, unless subject to a statutory exemption.
• A CEM offering a free consultation of their financial well-being or new products introduced for sale could be viewed as commercial activities. 
• Even with consent, the sender of a CEM must provide recipients with an option to unsubscribe from receiving further messages.

To learn more about how to help protect your clients and your business, and to ensure your marketing strategies comply with CASL, review the CASL legislation and related resources available on the Government of Canada’s website. There, you’ll also find information about how to help ensure you have obtained the appropriate consents to send emails, how to secure your computers, devices and networks, learn about best practices for guarding against spam threats, and read about some common business concerns relating to the anti-spam legislation.

Remember, 
Good Business is Compliant and Compliance Matters!