Letter of Transmittal

Stopping Spam: Creating a Stronger, Safer Internet
Report of the Task Force on Spam
May 2005

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May 2005

The Honourable David L. Emerson, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Industry
5th Floor, West Tower
235 Queen Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0H5

Dear Minister:

On May 11, 2004, the Government of Canada announced the launch of An Anti-Spam Action Plan for Canada and established a government – private sector task force to oversee and coordinate its implementation. We were given one year to do this work. At the end of this period, we were asked to report on the progress made, and to propose any new actions that might be required.

We are pleased to report that we were able to make significant progress toward the goal of stopping spam. This was only possible because of the assistance we received from a large number of people, representing all stakeholder groups, who contributed to our work.

Although we began as a committee of 10 people meeting in a room in Ottawa, we quickly grew to become a network that spanned the country and reached beyond its borders. Much of our work was done online through email. The experience brought home to all of us the potential of the Internet for transforming the ways things get done and the need to get rid of spam and other threats to Internet use.

Our mandate is finished, but much remains to be done. Our experience has taught us that spam is but one of a number of threats to the safety and security of the Internet as a platform for communications and commerce. We have recommended a series of actions that will help combat spam and spam-related threats in Canada. These actions will position our country as a leader in combatting a growing, worldwide problem. With its long history of leadership in communications, we believe that Canada should aim for nothing less.

Sincerely

Original signed by:

Lori Assheton-Smith
Michael Binder (Chair)
Tom Copeland
Bernard Courtois
Michael Geist
Amanda Maltby
Suzanne Morin
Geneviève Reed
Neil Schwartzman
Roger Tassè