When applying for a Record Suspension, you must list your employment history to demonstrate sustained rehabilitation. While the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) has the legal authority to call your current employer, they rarely do so unless your application contains major red flags, inconsistencies, or active police investigations during the waiting period.
Understanding the PBC Background Investigation
Applying for a federal Record Suspension in Canada is an invasive process. 🔍 The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) wants to be absolutely certain that sealing your criminal record will provide a “measurable benefit” to your life and that you have demonstrated “sustained rehabilitation.” To prove this, applicants must complete detailed forms outlining where they have lived and worked over the past several years, whether that is in a corporate office in Toronto, an oil rig in Alberta, or a retail store in Vancouver.
A major source of anxiety for applicants is the fear that a federal government investigator will unexpectedly call their boss. Many Canadians have worked hard to build a new life and keep their past indictable offences or summary convictions a secret from their current workplace. The thought of an employer finding out about a past DUI or theft charge because of a pardon application is terrifying.
Fortunately, the PBC is highly discreet. 💼 Their primary method of verifying your good conduct is through secure law enforcement databases, not by phoning civilian employers. Unless there is a glaring discrepancy in your paperwork, the PBC relies on the Local Police Records Check (LPRC) and your written statements to evaluate your stability in the community.
Step-by-Step Process: How Your Stability is Evaluated
Whether you live in Manitoba, Quebec, or New Brunswick, the federal evaluation of your employment and rehabilitation follows a specific documentary process.
Step 1: Completing the Measurable Benefit Form
You are required to fill out the Measurable Benefit/Sustained Rehabilitation form. On this document, you will outline how you have improved your life since your conviction. You must list your current employment or source of income, explaining how a pardon will help you (e.g., getting a promotion, passing a corporate background check, or travelling for work).
Step 2: The Local Police Records Check (LPRC)
Before sending your file to Ottawa, you must obtain an LPRC from the police force in every city you have lived in over the past 5 years. 🚨 The local police will check their internal dispatch systems to see if you have been involved in any domestic disputes, suspicious activity, or ongoing investigations that would contradict your claim of living a stable, law-abiding life.
Step 3: The PBC Desk Investigation
Once your complete package arrives at the PBC, an officer reviews it from their desk. They cross-reference your employment claims with the information provided by the RCMP and local police. If your story makes sense, you have no recent police contact, and all waiting periods have expired, the desk investigation is usually sufficient to approve the pardon.
Step 4: Exceptional Follow-Ups (Rare)
If the PBC officer suspects fraud-for example, if you claim to be employed but local police records indicate you were recently questioned for running an illegal enterprise-they may dig deeper. 👤 In these extremely rare cases, the PBC retains the right to verify your employment through secondary means, but they remain strictly bound by the federal Privacy Act to protect your sensitive information.
How Much Does the Application Process Cost in Canada?
Proving your rehabilitation to the government involves gathering several documents, each carrying its own administrative fee. Here are the general costs in CAD:
- PBC Application Fee: The federal government fee to process a Record Suspension application is currently fixed at $50 CAD.
- Local Police Checks (LPRC): Each municipal police station sets its own fee to complete this form, typically ranging from $50 to $100 CAD per city you have lived in.
- RCMP Background Check: Getting your certified fingerprints generally costs between $75 and $125 CAD.
- Court Documents: Retrieving your official conviction records from the provincial courthouse usually costs $10 to $30 CAD per document.
Factors the Parole Board Actually Scrutinizes
Instead of calling your employer, the PBC focuses on concrete legal metrics. 📍 Here is a comparison of what matters most.
| Evaluation Metric | High Importance to PBC | Low Importance to PBC |
|---|---|---|
| Police Contact | Recent 911 calls, domestic dispute flags, or provincial driving suspensions. | A single minor speeding ticket. |
| Financial Stability | Paying off your court-ordered victim surcharges and restitution in full. | Your actual salary amount or personal credit score. |
| Employment Status | Honesty on the application and demonstrating a stable routine. | Being unemployed, as long as you are actively seeking work or on legal assistance. |
How Long Does the Verification Process Take?
Once your application is accepted for processing, the PBC is bound by legislative service standards. 📅 If your record only contains summary convictions, the PBC will complete their investigation and render a decision within 6 months. If you have an indictable offence on your record, the complex background investigation will take up to 12 months. Gathering the LPRC and court documents before applying usually takes an additional 3 to 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What if I am unemployed or on social assistance?
You can still get a pardon. Being unemployed is not a crime in Canada. You must simply be honest on the application. Explain how securing a Record Suspension will specifically help you find a job and get off provincial assistance.
Does the PBC ask the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for my T4s?
No. The PBC does not generally cross-reference your application with your CRA tax files. They rely on the sworn statements you make on your application form. However, lying on a federal application is an offence and will result in an immediate denial.
What if I am self-employed or a freelancer?
Simply list your business name or state that you are an independent contractor. The PBC evaluates your overall stability. Self-employment is a perfectly valid form of sustained rehabilitation and good conduct.
If the PBC does call, what do they say to my employer?
In the highly unlikely event that a federal investigator contacts your workplace, they are governed by the Privacy Act. They will not announce, “I am calling about a criminal record.” They would only ask basic employment verification questions (e.g., confirming your start date).
Can I leave my current employer off the form to be safe?
No. You must provide a complete and honest history of your activities. Intentionally omitting your employment history is considered misrepresentation. If the PBC discovers you lied or withheld information, your Record Suspension application will be rejected.
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