No. The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) and the RCMP are strictly bound by the federal Privacy Act. They will absolutely never notify your current or former employers that you have applied for, or successfully received, a Canadian Record Suspension. Your application is entirely confidential.
One of the biggest fears holding Canadians back from clearing their criminal records is the anxiety of being “found out.” Many people have successfully rebuilt their lives, secured good jobs, and fear that applying for a pardon will somehow trigger a government notification to their human resources department. The thought of a boss discovering a past mistake from 10 years ago stops many from taking this vital step.
Fortunately, the Canadian justice system is designed to encourage rehabilitation, not jeopardize it. The process of applying for a Record Suspension (formerly called a pardon) is highly confidential. This guide explains exactly how the Parole Board of Canada handles your private information. If you are ready to secure your future but need professional guidance, you can easily find a discreet pardon specialist or lawyer in our Canadian directory to handle the paperwork for you. 📍
Step-by-Step Process in Canada
Whether you work for a small business in Alberta or a massive corporation in Ontario, your rights under the federal Privacy Act protect you. Here is exactly who the Parole Board communicates with during their investigation, proving that your employer is completely out of the loop.
Step 1: Submitting Your Confidential Application
When you or your legal representative mail your application to the PBC in Ottawa, it enters a secure federal system. You are required to list your current employment on the application forms purely to demonstrate that you are living a stable, rehabilitated life. This is for the Board’s internal assessment only. 📝
Step 2: The PBC Background Investigation
The Parole Board conducts a thorough investigation to ensure you have been of “good conduct.” Who do they actually contact? They communicate exclusively with other government and law enforcement agencies. They will query the RCMP, the local police detachments where you have lived, and the provincial court systems. They are looking for outstanding warrants or hidden convictions.
Step 3: The Strict “No Employer Contact” Rule
During the entire investigation, the PBC will never pick up the phone and call your boss. They will not send a letter to your workplace. Your employment information is verified through your tax records and your own sworn statements, not by auditing your manager. Your daily work life remains completely uninterrupted and confidential. 🙆
Step 4: The Final Confidential Decision
When the Board reaches a decision, the official approval letter is mailed directly to your personal home address (or to your lawyer’s office if you retained one). The RCMP is notified internally to seal your Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) file. From that moment on, if your employer decides to run a routine background check, it will simply come back stating “No Criminal Record.”
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
Securing a Record Suspension is an investment in your career, allowing you to seek promotions and new jobs without fear. 💰
- Federal Application Fee: The Parole Board of Canada processing fee is currently set at $50 CAD (recently reduced by the federal government to make pardons more accessible).
- Document Gathering: You must pay for your court records, local police checks, and fingerprinting, which usually totals around $150 to $300 CAD.
- Professional Assistance: If you hire a lawyer or a pardon agency to ensure absolute privacy and correct filing, professional fees generally range from $800 to $1,500 CAD.
| Who The PBC Contacts | Will They Know About Your Pardon? |
|---|---|
| Local Police Detachments | Yes. They are legally required to verify your good conduct. |
| The Court System | Yes. They must verify that all your fines are paid. |
| Your Current Employer | No. Strict privacy laws prohibit the PBC from contacting them. |
| Your Landlord | No. Your housing provider is never notified. |
How Long Does the Process Take?
Because the process is entirely invisible to your employer, the waiting period will not affect your current job. By law, once your application is accepted as complete, the PBC has up to 112 days to process a pardon for a summary conviction, and up to 224 days for an indictable offence. ⏱
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I have to tell my employer I got a pardon?
No. Once your Record Suspension is granted, under the Canadian Human Rights Act, federal employers cannot discriminate against you for a pardoned offence. Most provincial human rights codes also protect you. You are legally allowed to state you do not have a criminal record.
What if I work for the federal government or military?
Even if you work for a federal agency, the Parole Board will not notify your specific department manager. However, obtaining a high-level government security clearance later on may require you to disclose your past, even if it is pardoned.
Can an employer fire me if they somehow find out?
If an employer fires you solely because they discovered a pardoned offence, this may constitute wrongful dismissal or human rights discrimination, depending on your province. You should consult a Canadian employment lawyer immediately if this happens.
Will my pardoned record show up on a basic background check?
No. Once the pardon is fully processed by the RCMP, standard employment background checks run through CPIC will come back totally clear, showing no criminal history whatsoever.
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