OTTAWA and GATINEAU – Community newspaper publisher Metroland Media Group Ltd. has paid $240,000 as part of a settlement over violations to Canada's telemarketing rules, plus agreed to correct its telemarketing practices, the CRTC said Thursday.
Acting on complaints, the Commission investigated Metroland for unsolicited calls made via an automatic dialing-announcing device. The CRTC concluded that during the period from January 4, 2012, to July 31, 2013, Metroland’s identification message was not compliant because it did not include a local or a toll-free number and a mailing address at the beginning of the telecommunication.
In addition to paying the $240,000 penalty, Metroland committed to implement a compliance program to avoid similar violations in the future.
“We would like to thank Canadians who receive unsolicited calls for taking the time to file complaints”, said Manon Bombardier, CRTC chief compliance and enforcement officer, in the announcement. “Accurate, timely and complete information is essential to the success of our investigations, and it helps us protect Canadians. We are pleased to report that Metroland cooperated with our investigation and has changed its telemarketing practices.”
To date, the CRTC has issued more than $6.2 million in monetary penalties in monetary penalties, payable to the Receiver General for Canada, and $741,000 in other payments.
