The Record Suspension Review
The Record Suspension review is underway and you can have your say. Canadians have until December 16 to take part in a public consultation. In 2012 the government changed the rules to make it harder and more expensive to get a Record Suspension. Today the Liberal government is looking on dialing back some of those “tough on crime” measures.
Pardon Services Canada supports the Record Suspension review because we know from experience that the majority of records are for minor offences. We all make mistakes. In fact, one in eight Canadians have a criminal record. As we age, we mature. We become less likely to engage in rash or impulsive behaviour. It doesn’t make sense to keep someone away from opportunities in education, career, volunteering and travel, for incidents that are in the past.
Many people tell us about how a criminal record has affected them when they contact us. They feel worried when they apply for jobs and promotions. It limits their income and they can’t afford the things they need for their kids or the training they need to upgrade their skills. They can’t volunteer at events at their children’s schools. Sometimes colleges and universities bar them from certain programs. Not only does this affect the person with the record, it also affects their families.
Effects of a Record Suspension
A pardon can make all the difference. Clients are finally able to find work without anxiety about submitting to a record check. We’ve had clients who enrolled in social work, law enforcement and health care programs. One former client, who was pressured into drug dealing by an abusive ex-boyfriend, says she now uses her social work degree to help women in similar situations. Without a Record Suspension it would not have been possible for her to apply her life experience to improving the lives of others.
Looking at the government’s latest consultation can give some idea of what the task force might be considering. While the first consultation looked at a tiered system with different people paying different fees, now the government seems to focus on the ease of the process itself and on public opinion.
Record Suspension Review Topics
Here are some topics that feature in the latest consultation:
- Do you prefer the term “pardon” or “Record Suspension”?
- Should there be some offences that are not eligible for a Record Suspension?
- Is the wait time too long?
- Is the process to apply for the Record Suspension too hard?
- What should the criteria be?
- Should authorities reveal a suspended record in some cases, for example, a Vulnerable Sector check?
- Should there be certain criminal records that are spent after a certain period of time? (In other words, the criminal record disappears if the person does not reoffend.)
If you have opinions on how the Record Suspension process should be run, please, take the time to fill out the government’s survey. It should only take 10-15 minutes.
It could make a huge difference in the lives of many Canadian families. Also sign our petition at Lift the Burden to request a fair pardon system.
