Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology

Comité permanent de l'industrie, des sciences et de la technologie

For immediate release

Ottawa, December 13, 2017 -

On December 13, 2017, the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology presented its Tenth Report in the House of Commons entitled Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation: Clarifications Are in Order, in which it makes 13 recommendations.

The Committee acknowledges the importance of Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), its aim and the principles that support it. All consumers, businesses and other organizations benefit from a decrease in many forms of unsolicited commercial electronic communications. Public trust towards these means of communications and those who use personal information for commercial ends is essential to the prosperity of the Canadian economy.

CASL is no ordinary act. The legislation makes extensive changes to the conduct of electronic commerce in Canada by requiring that individuals and organizations alter longstanding practices. While not knowing the law does not, and will never, excuse its violation, CASL cannot reach its goals without providing further guidance about its substance and its application.

The Committee held 13 meetings on this study in Ottawa and received over 60 oral and written submissions from various experts and stakeholders.