In British Columbia, the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Board of Education might consider doing background checks on their elected members, as reported in the Vancouver Sun. Within that process, the importance of getting a record suspension has been seen yet again. This time Donna Allen, re-elected to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith board of education for a third term last month, has raised an important question in the aftermath of the municipal vote: Should criminal record checks be required of those seeking election as school trustees?
She became concerned about this issue during the campaign because she said one of her opponents did not fully disclose his 2006 conviction for marijuana production. Allen, a former board chairwoman, is so concerned about the lack of criminal record checks and the possible effects on children’s safety that she intends to lobby for change and will not claim her seat on the board. She said she knows the issue is divisive and is worried that raising it at the board table would be a distraction for trustees who have other important issues to address. That may well trigger a by-election to fill the vacancy. New laws about Canadian record suspensions might make erasing a person’s past from public record more difficult; however, people do make mistakes and the right to move forward in their lives and obtain a record suspension and a US entry waiver is important. What are your thoughts? Please comment.