CASL in one paragraph
Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation applies to commercial electronic messages, including promotional email and text messages. To send one you need (1) consent, (2) identification and contact information, and (3) a working unsubscribe mechanism (CRTC, CASL FAQ and CRTC guidance on implied consent).
- Express consent means the person actively opted in, for example by ticking an unticked box. It does not expire until they unsubscribe.
- Implied consent can come from an existing business relationship such as a recent purchase, but it is time-limited. Use it to ask for express consent, not as a permanent list.
- Order confirmations and receipts are not promotional messages, but do not slip promotions into them without consent.
- Keep a record of when and how each person opted in.
How to collect emails at a restaurant
- An opt-in box at online checkout, unticked by default, with a plain sentence: “Send me specials and news. Unsubscribe anytime.”
- A sign-up form on your website with one field and one promise (for example a monthly menu note).
- A QR code on the table or receipt that opens the sign-up form.
- In Quebec, Law 25 also applies to personal information: publish a privacy policy and only use the data for what people agreed to.
What to send
| When | Why it works | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome | Right after sign-up | Says what to expect; good place for a first-order thank-you |
| New dish or seasonal menu | When it launches | Gives regulars a reason to return |
| Slow-night special | Before your quiet nights | Fills tables you would not fill anyway |
| Holiday hours and gift cards | 2–3 weeks before holidays | Prevents wasted trips; sells gift cards |
| We miss you | After a long gap since the last order | Recovers lapsed guests |
Good habits
- Send on a steady rhythm, such as twice a month, rather than in bursts.
- One message, one button: order, book or read the menu.
- Use a real reply-to address and your restaurant’s name and address in the footer.
- Remove bounces and honour unsubscribes promptly.
Where Chefzi fits
Chefzi is a commission-free online ordering system for Canadian restaurants: your own ordering page in English and French, for a flat $35 a month. Orders placed on your own ordering page come with the guest’s contact details, so you can ask for marketing consent at checkout instead of relying on a delivery app’s customer list. If that sounds useful, book a 15-minute demo and we will show you your own menu in it. No pressure if you are just researching.
Sources
CRTC, CASL FAQ and CRTC guidance on implied consent · Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec (Law 25), checked 27 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
Can a restaurant email customers who ordered online?
A purchase can give implied consent for a limited time under CASL. To keep emailing long term, ask for express consent with an unticked opt-in box.
Does CASL apply to text messages?
Yes. CASL covers commercial electronic messages sent to an electronic address, including SMS.
What should every marketing email include?
Your restaurant’s identity and contact information and a working unsubscribe link.