Compliance guides
Messaging Compliance in Canada
SMS, WhatsApp, voice and RCS rules for businesses messaging customers in Canada.
Overview
Commercial electronic messages in Canada, including SMS, are governed by Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). You need express or implied consent, must identify the sender and must include a working unsubscribe mechanism.
Canadian websites should follow PIPEDA (and provincial laws where applicable) for collecting personal information, with a clear privacy policy and meaningful consent.
Search in Canada is mostly in English, with French essential in Quebec and for bilingual audiences; multicultural regions such as the Greater Toronto Area and Metro Vancouver also benefit from community-language targeting.
WhatsApp is a major business channel in much of Latin America, while in the US and Canada it is used alongside SMS. Consent and data protection laws in each country apply to WhatsApp marketing.
Automated and prerecorded calls are tightly regulated in the US (TCPA and the National Do Not Call Registry) and Canada (CRTC Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules), and other countries in the region have their own registers and rules.
Advertising Rules
Advertising should follow the Competition Act and Ad Standards' Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, including disclosure of influencer content.
Guides by Channel
SMS in Canada
Commercial electronic messages in Canada, including SMS, are governed by Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).
Read the guide →WhatsApp in Canada
WhatsApp marketing to Canadian customers should be consent-based under CASL and Meta's policies, with personal information handled in line with PIPEDA or applicable provincial laws..
Read the guide →Voice Call in Canada
Telemarketing calls in Canada must follow the CRTC's Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules, including the National Do Not Call List and specific rules for automatic dialing-announcing devices..
Read the guide →RCS in Canada
RCS business messaging reach in Canada depends on carrier and device support; CASL consent and unsubscribe requirements apply to RCS just as they do to SMS..
Read the guide →Practical Details
Country code +1; time zone America/Toronto; currency Canadian dollar (CAD).
Cities we cover in Canada
- Toronto
- Brampton
- Mississauga
- Vancouver
- Surrey
- Calgary
- Montreal
- Ottawa
- Edmonton
- Winnipeg
- Hamilton
- Kitchener-Waterloo
- Quebec City
- Halifax
- Markham
- Vaughan
- Oakville
- Windsor
- London (Ontario)
- Regina
- Saskatoon
- Victoria
- Kelowna
- Abbotsford
- Laval
- Gatineau
- Sherbrooke
- Trois-Rivières
- Longueuil
- Guelph
- Barrie
- St. John's
- Moncton
General information, not legal advice, as of October 2026.
Compliance in Canada: FAQs
Which messaging channels need registration in Canada?
It depends on the channel. Sender IDs for SMS often need registration with operators or the regulator, WhatsApp requires a verified business account and approved templates, and RCS needs brand verification. Each channel guide explains the details.
Does data protection law apply to messaging in Canada?
Canadian websites should follow PIPEDA (and provincial laws where applicable) for collecting personal information, with a clear privacy policy and meaningful consent.
Is this legal advice?
No. These guides are general information. For significant campaigns, take advice from a local lawyer.
Plan Compliant Campaigns in Canada
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