Some of the toughest anti-spam laws in the world are set to take effect in Canada on Tuesday, but some experts and consumers have expressed doubts about whether legislation designed to eliminate unsolicited emails will actually clear up your inbox.

Beginning July 1, a major section of Bill C-28 will come into effect. The legislation governs the ways businesses and organizations can communicate electronically with clients, and how clients’ personal information can be used for marketing purposes.

Under the new law, companies must seek consent from their customers before they are allowed to send them electronic marketing communications. This includes messages sent via emails, text messages and even social media accounts.

The goal, the government says, is to end the constant bombardment of spam by prohibiting the sending of unsolicited commercial emails, thus providing a more secure online system.

“The purpose of the act is really to give people faith back into the online marketplace,” Colin Rogers, Deloitte’s senior privacy manager told CTV News.

Tech expert Carmi Levy says it’s a nice idea, but one that has inherent limitations.

“There’s absolutely no way for any government, no matter how tough the law is, to legislate an end to spam,” Levy said. “The law simply can’t stop this global scourge.”

Levy also says the law will unfairly punish Canadian businesses, depending on the mass mail-outs.

To stay a step ahead, companies are emailing customers to request an “opt-in” to their mailing list.

Royal Ontario Museum assistant vice-president Kathryn Brownlie says it’s meant a lot of work for her organization.

“But the bottom line is, if we’re connected with people that are truly engaged, and passionate about the ROM, that can only be a good thing for our institution,” she said.

And the fines for violating the law are considerable, with individiuals facing up to $1 million, and a business facing up to $10 million.

Many enterprises are not prepared, says lawyer Andrew Aguilar, who co-author of a guidebook titled, “Internet Law Essentials: Canada’s Anti-Spam Law.”

The Canadian Federal Independent Business, which calls the legislation “heavy-handed,” is telling its members to ask for consent from existing clients via an initial email message.

But it may take some time before the law has a noticeable impact.

Regulator Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will help administer the new law, but it is expected to show some leniency for a period of adjustment as the law comes into effect.

"They may potentially do warnings or education first and then move their way up to what's an administrative monetary penalty," said Aguilar.

Consumers will be able to file complaints to the CRTC via a website, fightspam.gc.ca.

Critics say the law about scoring political points, and ultimately creates a false sense of security.

Levy says consumers “may not be as weary, as careful when they go online, so it could in fact, lead to an increase in spam.”

While some consumers say they expect that businesses will simply find a way around the law, the CRTC is promising to be vigilant, and go after violators within and beyond Canada’s borders.

“We also have the power to conduct warrants, to issue preservation demands notices to produce, and conduct investigations, said Manon Bombardier, the CRTC’s chief compliance and enforcement officer.

The new legislation doesn’t only limit the sending of unsolicited emails. Texts and all social media messages on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook are also banned unless recipients opt-in.

Under the law, the practice of “address harvesting,” which is the non-consensual collection of email addresses through computer programs, will also be illegal.