- The law
- Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), S.C. 2010, c. 23, sections 6 and 11, and the Electronic Commerce Protection Regulations (CRTC)
- Who enforces it
- Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
- Penalties
- Up to $1 million per violation for an individual and $10 million for any other person, such as a business.
What it means for your email
- Every commercial email must include an unsubscribe mechanism, set out clearly and prominently.
- Unsubscribing must cost the person nothing, and work through the same channel as the message where practicable.
- The unsubscribe link or address must stay valid for at least 60 days after you send the email.
- Act on each request without delay, and no later than 10 business days after it was sent.
- The mechanism must be readily performed. The CRTC's example is a link to a web page where the person can unsubscribe from all or some of your messages.
- Every email must also name the sender (and anyone it's sent on behalf of), with a mailing address and a phone number, email address or web address. These must stay valid for 60 days.
Do
- Put the unsubscribe link and your contact details where people can easily see them.
- Let people stop everything in one go, even if you also offer a choice of email types.
- Name your client as well as your agency when you send on a client's behalf.
- Sync opt-outs to every list and tool well inside 10 business days.
Don't
- Don't make people go through several steps to unsubscribe. CRTC staff give that as an example of a mechanism that isn't readily performed.
- Don't charge anything to unsubscribe.
- Don't let an unsubscribe link expire or break within 60 days of sending.
- Don't keep emailing someone after 10 business days from their request.
Good to know
- Quotes, transaction confirmations, warranty and safety notices, and account updates don't need consent, but they still need sender details and an unsubscribe.
- If it isn't practicable to put the sender details and unsubscribe in the email itself, they can sit on a web page reached free of charge by a clear and prominent link.
Sources
- Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation, S.C. 2010, c. 23, sections 1 to 9 (Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada)
- Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation, S.C. 2010, c. 23, sections 10 to 13 (Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada)
- Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation, S.C. 2010, c. 23, section 20 (Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada)
- Electronic Commerce Protection Regulations (CRTC) (SOR/2012-36) (Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada)
- Compliance and Enforcement Information Bulletin CRTC 2012-548 (CRTC)
- Getting consent to send email (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)
- Frequently Asked Questions about Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CRTC)
Researched by Mailfois · 2026/27 edition · checked 20 October 2026
Not legal advice. This is a plain-English summary. Check the sources for anything specific, or take professional advice. Spotted something out of date? Email [email protected] and we'll credit you if you'd like.