Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) came into effect on July 1, 2014. Under the legislation, anyone (including teachers, principals, office staff, etc.) who sends an electronic message that encourages participation in a commercial activity must do the following:
- Obtain the consent of the recipient
- Provide identification information about the sender
- Provide an unsubscribe option so recipients can remove themselves from the list
For more information on CASL, visit the Government of Canada’s website: www.fightspam.gc.ca
What is a commercial electronic message?
A commercial electronic message is a message sent to an electronic address that encourages participation in a commercial activity. Examples of electronic messages include emails, text messages, instant messages, telephone messages or direct messages on social media (e.g. Facebook or Twitter).
Messages are considered commercial when they have to do with the purchase of a good or service. Examples of commercial electronic messages you might receive from your school include messages about:
- Fundraising events
- Yearbook sales
- Sale of student photos
- Information about purchasing team uniforms
- School newsletters that contain commercial information
What does this mean for parents and guardians?
We want to keep parents and guardians informed about what’s happening at schools across the TDSB, and email and other electronic messages are often the best ways to stay in touch.
If you would like to continue receiving these types of messages, you can complete an online consent form or ask your principal for a paper consent form that you can sign and return to your school.
Electronic messages sent for informational purposes, like student progress or information nights, will continue to be sent.
Questions?
If you have questions, contact your school principal or email CASL@tdsb.on.ca.
You can also visit www.fightspam.gc.ca for more information on CASL.