Mailings that look like bills must carry a clear solicitation notice, must not claim Canada Post approval or statutory compliance, and non-compliant items must not be sent by post.
Regulations Respecting Solicitations for the Order of Goods or Services These Regulations may be cited as the Solicitations by Mail Regulations. Where a letter or other mailable matter that is not a bill, invoice or statement of account due is in such a form that it has the general appearance of a bill, invoice or statement of account due, it shall have endorsed on its face the following notice: “This is a solicitation for the order of (goods, services or goods and services, as the case may be) and not a bill, invoice or statement of account due. You are under no obligation to make any payments on account of this offer unless you accept this offer.” The notice referred to in section 2 shall be printed in boldface capital letters in such a manner that the print of such notice is no less conspicuous than the print of any other word on the letter or other mailable matter; and the size of the print of such notice is not smaller than the larger of the print of any other word on the letter or other mailable matter or 12 point type. There shall be a clear space of not less than 6 mm immediately surrounding the notice referred to in section 2 that is printed on a letter or other mailable matter. The notice referred to in section 2 shall be printed on a letter or other mailable matter in such a manner that the contrast between the background and the print of that notice is not less than the contrast between the background and the print of any other word on the face of the letter or other mailable matter. No letter or other mailable matter referred to in section 2 shall state that it has been approved by the Canada Post Corporation or that it conforms to any federal statute or regulation. No letter or other mailable matter referred to in section 2 that does not comply with these Regulations shall be sent by post.