CRTC: Financial and insurance industries must play by the telecommunications rules

CLEBC Staff/August 25, 2010

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission amended its interpretation of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules August 19, 2010, finding they apply to the financial industry and the insurance industry, and that unsolicited calls by members of these industries to existing clients to sell or promote products or services are telemarketing calls under the Rules.

The decision comes after public proceedings in which the CRTC heard from Advocis, the Canadian Association of Mutual Insurance Companies; the Canadian Bankers Association; Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc.; the Independent Financial Brokers of Canada; the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada; the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario; the Insurance Bureau of Canada; the Investment Funds Institute of Canada; the Investment Industry Association of Canada; MBNA Canada Bank; the Mouvement des caisses Desjardins; the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC); the RESP Dealers Association of Canada; Patrick Boucher, Financial Security Advisor; and Mr. Gilles Thouin.