e-1007 (Criminal justice system)
- Keywords
- 8545-421-18-06 Government Response to petitions concerning the criminal justice system
- Criminal record suspension
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the Government of Canada
- Record suspensions (formerly called pardons), are an opportunity for rehabilitated offenders who have been convicted under an Act of Parliament, and have proven to be of good conduct, to move on with their lives as law-abiding citizens. Between 1970 and 2012 the program granted approximately 410,000 pardons/record suspensions. As of 2012 crime rates were the lowest since the pardon system was introduced in 1970. 96% of pardoned individuals remained pardoned.
- In 2012, (i) eligibility wait times were raised from 3 and 5 years for summary and indictable offenses, respectively, to 5 and 10 years, (ii) the terminology for “Pardon” in the Criminal Records Act was changed to “Record Suspension” (which is not recognized internationally), (iii) the cost of application was raised from $150 to $624; and
- For those who have taken the steps to rehabilitate back into society, these changes have created a significant barrier in the search for meaningful employment. Most employers and many volunteer positions require a clean background to be considered eligible.
- Open for signature
- April 10, 2017, at 4:47 p.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- August 8, 2017, at 4:47 p.m. (EDT)
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
Dan Vandal
(Saint Boniface—Saint Vital)
September 29, 2017 (Petition No. 421-01699) - Government response tabled
- November 20, 2017