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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.

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Government of Canada

www.fightspam.gc.ca

About CASL

CASL generally prohibits the sending of commercial electronic messages (CEMs)Ìýwithout the recipient's consent (i.e. permission), also known as 'spam'. CEMsÌýincludesÌýmessages sent to an email address orÌýsocial networking account, as well asÌýtext messages sent to a cell phone.ÌýCASL alsoÌýspecifies information that must be included in all CEMs,Ìýsuch asÌýan easy-to-use 'unsubscribe' mechanism as well asÌýthe sender's contact information.Ìý

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,ÌýCEMs sent by the University for the primary purpose of raising funds are not subject to CASL.

Applying CASL


The following is aÌýseries of common Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà activities and whether or not CASL applies.

  1. Purpose of Message

    Communicating with faculty/staff/students

    Communicating withÌýpeople who are not faculty/staff/students but areÌýusing an @ucalgary.ca email address

  2. Does CASL Apply?

    No

    No

  1. 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 thatÌýare relatedÌýto the educational purpose of the University e.g. course materials,Ìýmeal plans, residences

  2. Does CASL Apply?

    No
    Ìý

    No

    No

    No

  1. 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

  2. Does CASL Apply?

    No

    No

  1. 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

  2. Does CASL Apply?

    No

    No

    No

  1. 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 thatÌýdo not relateÌýtoÌýthe core activities of the University e.g. professional sporting events held in University facilities

  2. Does CASL Apply?

    No

    Ìý

    Yes

  1. 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

  2. Does CASL Apply?

    No

    No
    Ìý

    No

    No

    No

  1. 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 partyÌýin 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 theÌýsender's identity, contact information, and an unsubscribe mechanismÌýis required)

  2. Does CASL Apply?

    No

    No

    Ìý

    Yes

  1. 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 aÌý3rd party

    Obtaining payment from aÌý3rd 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

  2. Does CASL Apply?

    Yes
    Ìý

    No
    Ìý

    No
    Ìý

    Yes

For more information about CASL, please see our frequently asked questions.