Canada

.: Enforcement

WHO TO CONTACT?

  Industry Canada

Attn: Richard Simpson, Director General
Electronic Commerce Branch
300 Slater Street, Room 2092
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C8
E-mail: simpson.richard at ic.gc.ca

or

Mr. Serge PRESSEAU,
Senior Policy Advisor / Conseiller principal en politiques;
Internet Policy / Politiques d’Internet;
Electronic Commerce Branch / Direct. gén. du commerce électronique;
Email: presseau.serge at ic.gc.ca


LIST OF ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

  Competition Bureau Canada

The Competition Bureau is an independent consumer protection and law enforcement agency responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Competition Act, amongst others (source).

• Competition Bureau website

  Privacy Commissioner of Canada

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Jennifer Stoddart, is an Agent of Parliament who reports directly to the House of Commons and the Senate. She is an advocate for the privacy rights of Canadians (Source).

• Privacy Commissioner website, available in English and in French

Page about internet privacy, with references to spam:

• In English
• In French

  Provincial and local police forces

• Forces website

.: Law & Regulation

Specific anti-spam law

On May 17, 2005, Canada’s Task Force on Spam issued a final report entitled Stopping Spam: Creating a Stronger, Safer Internet. The report includes a range of recommendations including more rigourous law enforcement, public education, policy development and legislation.

Although the Task Force Report recommended to adopt specific anti-spam legislation, this has yet to bear fruit in the form of an actual law.

Other laws applicable to spam

Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

This Act covers online privacy in detail and contains many provisions relevant to email marketing

• Full law text in English
• Full text in French
• PDF information booklet about this law (in English)
  

Competition Act

• Full law text in English
• Full law text in French
  

Criminal Code of Canada

• Full law text in English
• Full law text in French

.: Education, Awareness & Industry Initiatives

Government awareness initiatives

StopSpamHere.ca is a website designed to to help users protect themselves from Internet threats. The site includes an array of statistics, tips and resources on spam, spyware and phishing, which can lead to identity theft.

In particular, the site suggests three tips for combating spam:

  Protect your computer Spam is a growing source of computer viruses. It’s critical that you protect your computer from virus-carrying spam messages. Install and regularly update antivirus and anti-spam software. If you don’t have the extra protection of a firewall, get it.

  Protect your email address Reserve one email address for your trusted personal and business contacts. Create a separate, expendable email address for other online uses.

  Protect yourself Don’t try, don’t buy and don’t reply to spam. Just delete it. It’s a great way to prevent receiving more spam in the future.

Recommendations on educational and awareness raising activities are also included in the Canada’s Task Force on Spam Report "Stopping Spam: Creating a Stronger, Safer Internet".

• Report in English (PDF or HTML)
• Report in French (PDF or HTML)

Other initiatives

Canadian Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email (CAUCE)

CAUCE Canada is a consumer group devoted to promoting the creation of legal remedies to spam in Canada.

Latest update : 25th November 2006