Taken from The Business Blink newsletter of the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce, written by Michael Chong, MP

E-mail is a wonderful technology which, in just over a decade, has completely changed our lives. However, many of the benefits of e-mail have been offset by the problem of spam (unwanted and unsolicited commercial e-mails). According to a MessageLabs report of September 2009, spam accounted for as much as 86% of global e-mail traffic.  Unfortunately, Canada is, in part, responsible for this problem. Canada ranks as one of the top originating countries for spam; the Cisco 2008 Annual Security Report ranked Canada fourth on the “Spam by Originating Country” list.
 
The high volume of spam in recent years has negatively affected the productivity of Internet technologies like e-mail. When a high volume of e-mail is spam, networks slow down, people waste time (at home and work as they delete unwanted e-mails), and companies are forced to spend considerable money on systems to prevent spam from entering their networks.

The high volume of spam in recent years has also impeded the full potential of the Internet as a platform for commercial use. Spam is more than just unwanted e-mail; it is often used as a vehicle to perpetrate fraud on Canadians. It can lead to online fraud by luring individuals to counterfeit websites (phishing), the theft of personal data to rob bank and credit card accounts (identity theft), the collection of personal information through illicit access to computer systems (spyware), and false representations in the online marketplace.  Canadian businesses also suffer.  Businesses are the victims of the counterfeiting of their websites to defraud individuals and other businesses (spoofing). Spam-borne viruses and other malicious software (malware) are used to operate networks of “zombie” computers (botnets) without their owners’ knowledge. This undermines confidence in the Internet as a platform for personal and business use.
 
The government is acting to combat spam and related threats by introducing Bill C-27, a piece of anti-spam legislation entitled the Electronic Commerce Protection Act (ECPA). The proposed legislation will deter the most damaging form of spam from occurring in Canada and will help drive spammers out of Canada.

Bill C-27 was in front of the Industry Committee, the Committee I have the privilege of chairing.  We have heard from a wide range of witnesses and the legislation passed our Committee at the end of October. Recently the bill has entered third reading and debate in the House.

If adopted by Parliament, Bill C-27 will go a long way to combating spam and spam-related threats. Based on the experience of other countries with similar legislation, a reduction in spam is quickly expected. While the legislation will not eliminate spam entirely, Canadians will see a reduction in the amount of spam received. Equally important, the legislation will decrease the most damaging forms of spam from originating in Canada, and will help drive spammers, along with the associated illegal activity, out of Canada.

The Internet has become the primary platform for online commerce and general communications.  Canada has had a long history of global leadership in the communications sector. E-commerce is now a major part of the Canadian economy, with billions of dollars of goods and services being sold over the Internet each year in Canada. This legislation will allow Canada to continue that leadership, ensuring we remain a secure locale for e-commerce and for Canadians. It’s time for Canadian law to catch up to the Internet age.

If you wish to find out more or have any enquiries, please contact me at chongm@parl.gc.ca or at   (866) 878 5556.  Hon. Michael Chong, M.P. Wellington-Halton Hills