Canadian Emergency Alert
Resources & Guides
CASL compliance checklists, emergency alert templates, industry best practices, and regulatory guides for Canadian organizations. 100% free. No signup required.
CASL Compliance Guide for Canadian Organizations
Everything you need to know about Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)
What is CASL (Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation)?
CASL is Canada's anti-spam law that regulates commercial electronic messages (CEMs), including SMS, email, and social media messages. Enforced by the CRTC, CASL requires express or implied consent before sending commercial messages to Canadian recipients.
- • Individuals: Up to $1 million CAD per violation
- • Businesses: Up to $10 million CAD per violation
- • CRTC can also pursue criminal charges
Key CASL Requirements:
- 1.Consent: Must have express or implied consent before sending commercial messages
- 2.Identification: Clearly identify your organization and provide contact information
- 3.Unsubscribe: Include clear opt-out mechanism in every message (e.g., "Reply STOP to unsubscribe")
- 4.Record Keeping: Maintain records of consent for CRTC audits
CASL vs TCPA: What's the Difference?
- • Express OR implied consent (existing business relationships qualify)
- • Must identify sender in every message
- • Opt-out required in every commercial message
- • Applies to SMS, email, social media
- • CRTC enforcement: Up to $10M CAD per violation
- • Prior express written consent required
- • 10DLC registration mandatory for long code numbers
- • STOP keyword mandatory
- • Applies to SMS and voice calls
- • FCC enforcement: $500-$1,500 USD per violation
AlertBolt handles both CASL and TCPA compliance automatically. Send to Canadian and US contacts with confidence.
Quebec-Specific: LCAP (Loi Canadienne Anti-Pourriel)
Quebec uses the French name LCAP for CASL. Additional considerations:
- • Messages in French must include French opt-out ("Répondre ARRÊT pour vous désabonner")
- • Consumer Protection Act (Quebec) adds extra requirements
- • AlertBolt provides bilingual FR/EN compliance automatically
Downloadable Templates & Checklists
Free resources for Canadian emergency communications
CASL Compliance Checklist
20-point checklist to ensure your SMS campaigns are CASL-compliant. Includes consent requirements, record-keeping, and opt-out procedures.
Emergency Alert Templates
12 pre-written templates for common Canadian emergencies: weather closures, security threats, facility evacuations, and more. Bilingual FR/EN.
Manufacturing Safety Alert Guide
Best practices for Canadian manufacturing: shift change notifications, safety incident alerts, equipment downtime communication.
Healthcare Staff Alert Guide
PHIPA and PIPEDA-compliant staff notifications for Canadian hospitals and clinics. On-call schedules, emergency callbacks, shift changes.
School Emergency Communication Plan
Template emergency communication plan for Canadian K-12 schools and districts. Includes lockdown, weather closure, and parent notification procedures.
CRTC Audit Preparation Guide
What to expect during a CRTC compliance audit and how to prepare your documentation. Includes sample consent records and audit trail examples.
All resources are 100% free for Canadian organizations. No email signup required.
Industry-Specific Best Practices
Emergency alert guidance tailored to Canadian industries
Manufacturing & Industrial
GTA, Quebec, and BC manufacturers use AlertBolt for:
- • Shift Change Notifications: Reach floor workers instantly about last-minute schedule changes
- • Safety Incidents: Immediate alerts for equipment malfunctions, spills, or injuries
- • Production Line Status: Downtime notifications to affected departments
- • Weather Closures: Alert 3 shifts before they commute during ice storms
Healthcare & Hospitals
Canadian healthcare facilities use AlertBolt for:
- • On-Call Schedules: Automated on-call rotation reminders and emergency callbacks
- • Code Alerts: Facility-wide emergency codes (Code Blue, Code Red, etc.)
- • Staffing Updates: Last-minute shift coverage needs and overtime opportunities
- • Patient Privacy: PHIPA and PIPEDA-compliant messaging
Education & Schools
Canadian school districts use AlertBolt for:
- • Emergency Lockdowns: Instant staff alerts via mobile app during security threats
- • Weather Closures: Notify 8,500+ parents in under 3 minutes about snow day closures
- • Bus Delays: Real-time transportation updates to parents
- • Staff Coordination: PA days, professional development, and meeting reminders
Property Management & Real Estate
Canadian property managers use AlertBolt for:
- • Building Emergencies: Fire alarms, water leaks, elevator outages—instant tenant notifications
- • Maintenance Updates: Planned outages for water, power, or HVAC
- • Parking & Access: Gate malfunctions, parking lot closures, security updates
- • Move-In Coordination: Automated reminders for new tenants
Canadian Success Stories
How Canadian organizations use AlertBolt for emergency communications
Mississauga Manufacturing Plant
280 employees • 98.7% delivery rate • $8.2K annual savings
Montreal Healthcare Network
420 bilingual staff • 98.4% delivery • CASL compliant
Fraser Valley School District
18 schools • 8,500 parents • 99.1% delivery • 2.1 min reach time
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need express consent to send emergency alerts in Canada?
Under CASL, implied consent from an existing business relationship (EBR) is sufficient for employee emergency alerts, as they are considered "relationship messages" rather than commercial messages. However, for marketing or promotional SMS, express consent is required. AlertBolt helps you track both types of consent.
What's the difference between CASL and PIPEDA?
CASL regulates commercial electronic messages (consent to send), while PIPEDA regulates personal information handling (consent to collect and store). Both apply to Canadian emergency alert platforms. AlertBolt is compliant with both CASL and PIPEDA, including encrypted storage of contact data.
Does AlertBolt handle bilingual compliance for Quebec?
Yes! AlertBolt automatically handles French/English bilingual compliance including STOP/ARRÊT keywords, bilingual consent forms, and Quebec Consumer Protection Act requirements. Toronto-based support team includes French speakers.
Can I use AlertBolt for both Canadian and US contacts?
Absolutely! AlertBolt handles both CASL (Canada) and TCPA (USA) compliance automatically. Send to contacts in both countries with one platform. Canadian numbers activate instantly; US numbers require 10DLC registration (we guide you through it).
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