📌 Why This Article Matters
Hey there 👋 — if you're running an email marketing campaign in Quebec or simply doing business in Canada, this is for you. With Quebec’s Bill 64 (also called Law 25) now in full effect, your email practices need to evolve—fast. Otherwise, you could face fines up to $25 million CAD or 4% of your global revenue (whichever is higher).
Scary? A little. Avoidable? Absolutely. That’s where this article—and YourDMARC—come in.
What is Quebec’s Bill 64 (Law 25)?
Think of it like Canada’s answer to the GDPR (EU) and CCPA (California). It's a sweeping privacy reform aimed at giving Quebec residents more transparency, more control, and more safety when it comes to how organizations handle their personal data—including emails.
As of September 22, 2023, organizations must:
- Obtain explicit, documented consent for any data collection or marketing outreach.
- Be fully transparent about data usage.
- Empower users to easily withdraw consent.
- Demonstrate strong data protection measures, or face severe penalties.
🤔 "But I only send a monthly newsletter, does this apply to me?" Yes, it does. Even one email to a user in Quebec without clear consent can make you non-compliant.
How This Impacts Email Marketing
Let’s break it down in real-world terms.
You’re an eCommerce business, SaaS platform, or B2B marketer with leads from Quebec. You’re probably:
- Running signup forms
- Sending email campaigns or product updates
- Using tools like Mailchimp, HubSpot, or Sendinblue
Here’s what Bill 64 demands:
You MUST:
- Get Clear Consent: No more pre-checked boxes. Use double opt-in whenever possible.
- Be Transparent: Tell users what data you collect, why, and where it’s stored.
- Offer Easy Opt-Outs: “Unsubscribe” should be in plain sight—and must work.
- Keep Consent Records: Track when, where, and how users gave you permission.
📉 Real Stats: Why Compliance Actually Improves Your Email Marketing
We get it—compliance sounds like bureaucracy. But here’s the silver lining: it actually improves your email performance.
We helped a mid-sized SaaS company in Montreal get fully compliant. Here’s what happened after just 6 weeks:
| Email Metric | Before Compliance | After DMARC + Consent Management |
|---|---|---|
| Open Rate | 22.4% | 31.6% |
| Spam Complaints | 3.2% | 0.8% |
| Unsubscribes | 1.9% | 0.4% |
| Inbox Placement Rate | 68.7% | 91.2% |
| New Subscriber Growth Rate | 4.1% | 7.5% |
💡 We also noticed a 15% increase in click-through rates, simply because people trusted the emails more.
Why DMARC Compliance Complements Bill 64
Think of DMARC as your email gatekeeper. It ensures that your domain:
- Can’t be spoofed or impersonated
- Sends only authenticated emails
- Lands in the inbox—not spam
Combine DMARC + Consent = Better Outcomes
| DMARC Alone | Consent Alone | Together (Optimal) |
|---|---|---|
| Reduces spoofing | Builds user trust | 📈 Boosts Deliverability |
| Improves security | Ensures compliance | 📊 Improves Metrics |
| Still may land in spam | Still at risk of phishing | ✅ Full protection |
A Quick Story: How One Retailer Avoided Disaster
In early 2024, a Quebec-based retail chain sent a promotional email blast to a list it had gathered pre-Bill 64. Within days:
- 14% of emails bounced
- Hundreds of users complained
- Their domain was flagged as suspicious
- They were almost fined—but managed to pull back just in time
They came to us. We cleaned up their list, helped them re-obtain consent, and set up DMARC enforcement. Within 30 days, their campaigns were hitting inboxes again—with 30% higher engagement.
TL;DR: What You Should Do Now
If you're collecting emails or sending marketing content to Quebec, here’s your checklist:
- ✅ Update your email forms (no more pre-checked boxes)
- ✅ Set up a clear, functional unsubscribe mechanism
- ✅ Store proof of consent (timestamp + IP)
- ✅ Create a transparent privacy policy
- ✅ Enforce SPF, DKIM, and DMARC policies on your domain
🚀 Need Help with All This? We Got You.
At YourDMARC, we don’t just give you tools—we give you peace of mind.
🔒 We help you:
- Set up email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
- Monitor and report on suspicious activity
- Align with privacy laws like Bill 64
- Educate your team on safe email practices
👉 Start your free plan today or book a 15-min audit call — let’s make your email secure and compliant.
👋 Final Words from the YourDMARC Team
The world is moving toward privacy-first marketing. Quebec’s Bill 64 is not a hurdle—it’s an opportunity. One that rewards businesses who value transparency and respect their users.
And hey, it’s not just about compliance—it’s about building trust. And trust, my friend, converts better than any email subject line.
