I didn’t know this until recently, but there is a national do-not-call list you can register your canadian phone number to through the government of Canada:
Additionally, if you’re already a customer with the company calling or have been within a year, they are allowed to call you; HOWEVER,
Next time a company – like rogers for example – incessantly calls you, ask them to add you to their internal do-not-call list, and enjoy your peace knowing that if they call you again, you can report them to the government of Canada. They face possible financial repercussions if this happens.
I wonder whether it has changed in the last 16 years
I’m not sure. I just remember that after it was announced, people signed up, and their spam calls increased. Then any discussion around it disappeared.
I’ll look into it, thanks!