CASL-Compliant Email Templates for Canadian Businesses

Creating CASL-compliant emails isn't complicated once you understand the requirements. Every marketing email to a Canadian recipient must include the sender's identification, contact information, and a functioning unsubscribe mechanism. Here are ready-to-use templates for every email scenario Canadian businesses face.

Last updated: April 2026

The CASL Email Checklist (Apply to Every Template)

Before using any email template for marketing to Canadian recipients, verify it includes:

• Sender identification: Your full business name (or the name on whose behalf the message is sent)
• Mailing address: Plus a telephone number, email address or web address (Electronic Commerce Protection Regulations (CRTC), s. 2(1)(d))
• Functioning unsubscribe mechanism: A clear link or method to opt out
• Unsubscribe processing time: Processed within 10 business days
• Subject line accuracy: Not misleading about the email's content
• From address: Your domain (not a generic or shared address that misrepresents origin)

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Template 1: Welcome Email (New Subscriber — Express Consent)

Use when: A new subscriber has opted in via a signup form

Subject: Welcome to [Business Name]! Here's what to expect

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Hi [First Name],

Welcome! You're officially subscribed to [Business Name]'s emails — we're glad you're here.

Here's what you can expect from us:

• [Describe your email content, e.g., "Industry insights and practical tips for Canadian businesses"]
• [Frequency, e.g., "We send one email per week"]
• [Any specific series or sequence]

[Call to action button: "Explore Our Resources" or relevant CTA]

Got questions? Reply to this email anytime.

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[Business Name] [Street Address, City, Province, Postal Code] [Phone (optional)] | [Email] [Website URL]

You're receiving this email because you subscribed at [website or location]. [Unsubscribe link] — We'll process your request within 10 business days.

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Template 1 Notes:

• Confirm the person subscribed via an unchecked checkbox — don't welcome someone who was imported without consent
• If using double opt-in, the confirmation click before this welcome email creates the consent record

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Template 2: Re-Consent Campaign (Implied Consent Expiring)

Use when: A customer's implied consent (24-month purchase window) is about to expire

Subject: Stay connected — update your email preferences

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Hi [First Name],

It's been a while since we've heard from you — your last purchase was over 23 months ago.

Under Canadian anti-spam law, we need your permission to keep sending you marketing emails. If you'd like to continue hearing from us, click below to confirm your subscription.

[Button: "Yes, keep me subscribed"]

If you don't want to hear from us, no action is needed. We'll remove you from our marketing list.

Either way — thank you for being a customer. We hope to serve you again soon.

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[Business Name] [Street Address, City, Province, Postal Code]

Not sure why you received this? You're on our list because you made a purchase from us. [Unsubscribe link]

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Template 2 Notes:

• Send this 30 days before the 24-month implied consent window expires
• If the customer doesn't click, suppress them from marketing after the window closes
• Record the consent confirmation with a timestamp when they click "Yes, keep me subscribed"

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Template 3: Marketing Newsletter Footer (Standardised Reusable Component)

Use in: Every marketing email you send

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[FOOTER CONTENT]

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[Business Name] [Street Address] [City, Province, Postal Code]

You're receiving this because you subscribed to [Business Name]'s emails [or: because you're a customer of Business Name].

[Unsubscribe] | [Manage preferences] | [View in browser]

Unsubscribe requests are processed within 10 business days.

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Template 3 Notes:

• This footer should be embedded as a template in your email platform (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, etc.)
• The mailing address is a CASL hard requirement — don't omit it
• "Manage preferences" is optional but provides a good user experience alternative to full unsubscribe

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Template 4: Transactional Email (Consent-Exempt)

Use when: Confirming a transaction, shipping, or account action

Subject: Your order [#12345] has been confirmed

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Hi [First Name],

Thank you for your order! Here are your order details:

Order Number: #12345 Items ordered: [Item list] Total: $[Amount] + applicable taxes Estimated delivery: [Date or range]

[Button: "Track Your Order"]

Questions about your order? Contact us at [email] or [phone].

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[Business Name] [Address] [Unsubscribe link]

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Template 4 Notes:

• A message that solely confirms a transaction is exempt from CASL's consent requirement (s. 6(6)), but the identification and unsubscribe requirements in s. 6(2) still apply
• Do NOT add promotional content ("Check out our new products!" or coupon codes) to this email without being aware that it converts to a marketing email requiring consent
• If you want to include a promotional element, ensure the recipient has express or valid implied marketing consent

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Template 5: Unsubscribe Confirmation

Use when: A customer unsubscribes from marketing emails

Subject: You've been unsubscribed from [Business Name] emails

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Hi [First Name or subscriber],

You've successfully unsubscribed from [Business Name]'s marketing emails. This request will be processed within 10 business days.

After that, you'll no longer receive promotional emails from us.

Note: You may still receive order confirmations, account notices, and other transactional messages related to active service relationships.

If you unsubscribed by mistake, click here to resubscribe: [Resubscribe link]

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[Business Name] [Street Address]

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Template 5 Notes:

• Send this immediately on unsubscribe processing
• Clarify the difference between transactional messages (which may continue) and marketing messages (which stop)
• Providing a resubscribe option is optional but useful

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Template 6: B2B Cold Email (Implied Consent — Published Address)

Use when: Reaching out to a business contact whose email is published on their company website

Subject: [Specific value proposition relevant to their role] — [Business Name]

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Hi [Name],

[Personalised opener — why you're reaching out to them specifically]

[1-2 sentences on your value proposition, relevant to their role]

[Specific reason this is relevant to their organisation]

Would you be open to a 20-minute call to explore whether we can help?

[Your name] [Title], [Business Name] [Phone] | [Email]

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[Business Name] [Full Street Address, City, Province, Postal Code]

If you'd prefer not to receive emails from us, reply with "unsubscribe" and we will not contact you again. [Or include a link-based unsubscribe mechanism]

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Template 6 Notes:

• CASL allows outreach to email addresses conspicuously published on public websites when the message is relevant to the recipient's business role
• Still must include sender identification and unsubscribe mechanism
• Process unsubscribe requests within 10 business days — manual processing is acceptable for small-volume outreach
• This is implied consent — keep the message relevant to the recipient's professional context

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Template 7: Re-Permission Email (Recovering Non-Compliant Contacts)

Use when: Running a re-permission campaign for a list with uncertain consent status

Subject: [Business Name] — do you want to stay in touch?

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Hi [First Name or subscriber],

We're updating our email subscriber list to make sure we're only sending to people who actually want to hear from us.

To continue receiving emails from [Business Name] — including [brief description of your email content] — please confirm below.

[Button: "Yes, I want to stay subscribed"]

If we don't hear from you by [date — typically 2-3 weeks from send], we'll remove you from our list. No hard feelings — you're welcome back any time.

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[Business Name] [Street Address]

If you'd prefer to unsubscribe now: [Unsubscribe link]

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Template 7 Notes:

• There is some CASL risk in sending a re-permission email to non-consented contacts (it is itself a CEM)
• Balance this risk against the ongoing risk of marketing to non-consented contacts
• One targeted, transparent re-permission email is generally considered lower risk than continued regular marketing
• Consult your legal advisor before running a re-permission campaign to a large list of uncertain contacts

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CASL Compliance Across Your Email Programme

The templates above cover the most common email scenarios. Apply the CASL checklist to every marketing email you send:

• Sender identification ✓
• Physical address ✓
• Unsubscribe mechanism ✓
• Accurate subject line ✓
• Valid consent exists for each recipient ✓

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use these templates as-is, or do I need a lawyer to review them? A: These templates are designed to reflect CASL requirements, but they're starting points. Customize for your specific business and, for high-stakes campaigns (large volume, new marketing programmes), have a legal professional review.

Q: Do text messages need the same footer as emails? A: CASL applies to text messages (SMS) as commercial electronic messages. The identification and unsubscribe requirements apply, though the format differs from email. If it is not practicable to include the identification, contact information and unsubscribe mechanism in the message itself, they may be posted on a web page that is readily accessible at no cost through a link that is clearly and prominently set out in the message (Electronic Commerce Protection Regulations (CRTC), s. 2(2)).

Q: Our email tool doesn't allow a footer with an address. Is that acceptable? A: CASL requires sender identification and an address. If your email tool's template doesn't support this, you need a different tool or a custom template. Not including the required information is a CASL violation regardless of technical constraints.

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Related reading: What is CASL | CASL Unsubscribe Requirements | CASL Email List Audit