Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)
Canada's anti-spam legislation (CASL) protects consumers and businesses from the misuse of digital technology, including spam and other electronic threats.
Government of Canada
www.fightspam.gc.ca
About CASL
CASL generally prohibits the sending of commercial electronic messages (CEMs) without the recipient's consent (i.e. permission), also known as 'spam'. CEMs includes messages sent to an email address or social networking account, as well as text messages sent to a cell phone. CASL also specifies information that must be included in all CEMs, such as an easy-to-use 'unsubscribe' mechanism as well as the sender's contact information.
CASL does not apply to CEMs sent between individuals in the same organization provided that the message relates to the activities of the organization. This means that messages from a 'ucalgary.ca' email address to another 'ucalgary.ca' email address are exempt from CASL as long as the message relates to the University’s activities and/or operations.
Furthermore, CEMs sent by the University for the primary purpose of raising funds are not subject to CASL.
Applying CASL
The following is a series of common University of Calgary activities and whether or not CASL applies.
-
Purpose of Message
Communicating with faculty/staff/students
Communicating with people who are not faculty/staff/students but are using an @ucalgary.ca email address
-
Does CASL Apply?
No
No
-
Purpose of Message
Promoting or recruiting students for programs that are primarily educational e.g. academic/professional/continuing education programs
Application, admissions, and registration processes for educational programs
Collecting information from prospective students for statistical purposes
Promoting the purchase of products, goods, or services that are related to the educational purpose of the University e.g. course materials, meal plans, residences
-
Does CASL Apply?
No
No
No
No
-
Purpose of Message
Recruiting faculty and staff to work at the University
Communications from providers informing faculty and staff about employee benefits and services e.g. pension, health care plan, faculty/staff housing plan
-
Does CASL Apply?
No
No
-
Purpose of Message
Providing information to alumni or the public regarding University activities
Promoting 3rd party products or services
Raising funds for the University where a charitable tax receipt is provided
-
Does CASL Apply?
No
No
No
-
Purpose of Message
Promoting events that relate to the core activities of the University e.g. student athletics, faculty/student concerts or art exhibits, academic conferences, research workshops
Promoting events that do not relate to the core activities of the University e.g. professional sporting events held in University facilities
-
Does CASL Apply?
No
Yes
-
Purpose of Message
Providing information to the public about research activities
Requesting funding for a research project from a funding agency or clinical trial sponsor
Communicating with other researchers about research activities
Recruiting research subjects
Collecting research data
-
Does CASL Apply?
No
No
No
No
No
-
Purpose of Message
Making an inquiry about products, goods, or services offered by a 3rd party
Communicating with an employee, representative, consultant, or franchisee of a 3rd party in which the University has a relationship with and where the message concerns the activities of the 3rd party
Using publicly available email addresses where there is implied consent under CASL (note that the sender's identity, contact information, and an unsubscribe mechanism is required)
-
Does CASL Apply?
No
No
Yes
-
Purpose of Message
Promoting services offered by the University that do not relate to the core activities e.g. outdoor equipment rentals to the public
Responding to inquiries or delivering any of the foregoing services at the request of a 3rd party
Obtaining payment from a 3rd party for any of the foregoing services where there is a legal obligation to pay e.g. debt collection, invoicing
Promoting or recruiting individuals for non-educational programs
-
Does CASL Apply?
Yes
No
No
Yes
For more information about CASL, please see our frequently asked questions.