A text message is short, personal and read quickly, which makes it the natural channel for a reminder, a same-day offer or a delivery update. In Canada it is also regulated exactly like email: CASL is technology-neutral, so a promotional SMS is a commercial electronic message that needs consent, sender identification and a way to opt out.
What CASL means for your texts
- Consent first. Collect express consent for SMS specifically, for example with a checkbox on a form or a keyword texted to your number. Implied consent from a purchase (two years) or an inquiry (six months) also applies to texts, but express consent is safer.
- Identify yourself. Name your business in the message or in a linked page with your contact details. With only 160 characters, a short link to a page with your full identification is a common approach.
- Offer an opt-out. A “Reply STOP to unsubscribe” line is the usual mechanism, and requests must be honoured within 10 business days.
Our FAQ on collecting SMS opt-ins shows practical wording, and the page on SMS laws and restrictions compares Canada with other countries.
Numbers, senders and formats
Canada shares the +1 country code with the United States under the North American Numbering Plan, so a Toronto mobile is written +1 416 555 0123 and a Montreal one +1 514 555 0123. Store numbers in this international format to avoid failed sends; our country code list helps if your file also contains international contacts.
Canadian carriers generally do not display alphanumeric sender names the way European networks do, so messages usually arrive from a number. High-volume brands often use a common short code, a five- or six-digit number administered by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association through its txt.ca program. Check the options for your account in our FAQ on configuring the SMS sender.
Writing texts in French
French messages need a little extra care. Characters such as ê, â or ô fall outside the standard GSM alphabet, which switches the message to Unicode and reduces a single segment from 160 to 70 characters. Keep bilingual texts brief, or send separate English and French versions to each language segment rather than stacking both languages in one message. The SMS character limit FAQ explains the encoding in detail.
Timing across six time zones
A text sent at 8 a.m. Eastern wakes up Vancouver at 5 a.m. Split your list by province or time zone and schedule each send in advance so every region receives it at a reasonable hour. Good moments for Canadian SMS include the Friday before a long weekend (Victoria Day, Canada Day, Thanksgiving), the morning of Boxing Day, and the day before an appointment.
What Canadian businesses send
- Dental, physio and veterinary clinics: appointment reminders that cut no-shows.
- Restaurants and retailers: flash offers on quiet weekdays.
- Ski resorts and outdoor operators: snow reports and weather updates.
- Municipal services and schools: storm closures and schedule changes.
Why send SMS with Mailpro
You manage texts in the same account as your email list, so consent status and language preference follow each contact. Messages can be personalized with first names and other fields, and delivery reports show what arrived. In Mailpro’s own customer survey, SMS deliverability is rated 9.8/10. Contact data is stored in Switzerland, outside US jurisdiction. See rates on the SMS pricing page.