The missives are getting more frequent, and carrying a greater sense of urgency, as the deadline draws near.
"Don't let Canada's new anti-spam legislation come between us," reads one of the emails imploring me to get on board so the federal government doesn't tear us apart. Another tells me we won't be able to maintain our online relationship unless I act soon.
They both inform me, as many others do these days, that they value my business/friendship/support and would like it to continue past July 1, the date Bill C-28, Canada's anti-spam legislation, comes into effect.
I guess I'm guilty of being a typical man because I didn't even realize I was in any of these relationships! I recognize that bulk emails are a cheap, and presumably effective, way of communicating with potential customers for many businesses and organizations, particularly smaller ones that have limited budgets. Yet the pleas they are making, which are arriving in increasing numbers in recent days, simply reinforce the need for these new federal regulations.
I'm told they don't want our relationship to be severed, which is rather curious given I haven't done any business with them in the past, nor would I have any reason to do so moving forward. It's also a bit ironic that most of this electronic correspondence ends up in my quarantine folder, classified by spam filters as junk because the list of recipients (I mean treasured business associates) is longer than a New York City phonebook.
Canada has been late to the table when it comes to cracking down on unwanted electronic messages, including texts and tweets, just now joining an international effort to thwart such incursions. There are significant monetary penalties for violating the pending legislation, so as long as enforcement is sufficient, which is no sure thing, our inboxes and cell phones will soon be the recipients of much less spam.
Even though I support Ottawa's efforts to eliminate (or at least greatly reduce) the flow of unwelcome messages, there's still a tiny part of me that feels sorry for those companies desperately reaching out at the 11th hour in an attempt to preserve their way of doing business.
"Please help us stay in touch by providing your consent below," urges the email from one these anxious suitors, who reminds me I've got precious few days left to solidify our bond.
Alas, I leave them hanging, figuring it's pretty hard to break up a relationship that I never knew existed.
