After lengthy delays and extensive consultation, the Government of Canada announced today that most of Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation, including the rules surrounding sending commercial electronic messages, will come into force on July 1, 2014.
However, provisions related to the unsolicited installation of computer programs or software will not come into force until January 15, 2015 and the provisions providing for a private right of action will not come into force until July 1, 2017 (see the Coming Into Force Order).
The government also published today Industry Canada's final Electronic Commerce Protection Regulations which set forth, among other things, messages that will be excluded from the consent requirements as well as messages that will be exempt from both the consent and form requirements of the law. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's Electronic Commerce Protection Regulations (CRTC) were finalized in March 2012.
A more detailed and substantive bulletin will follow. In the meantime, you may find additional information at the following links: News Release, Backgrounder, Explanatory Note and Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement.
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