To complete your Record Suspension application in Manitoba, you must obtain a “Court Information” document from the Provincial Court of Manitoba or the Court of King’s Bench where your case was heard. The standard processing fee is approximately $20 CAD per document.
Clearing your criminal record in Canada gives you a fresh start, allowing you to travel, volunteer, and secure better employment. If your past mistakes occurred in Manitoba-whether in Winnipeg, Brandon, or Thompson-you will need to navigate the provincial justice system to gather evidence for the Parole Board of Canada (PBC).
The federal government requires absolute proof that you have fulfilled all your obligations to the court. 📝 You must prove that your fines are paid, your probation is complete, and your required waiting period has passed. To do this, you must request an official Court Information form (often called a Certificate of Conviction or disposition) directly from the Manitoba courthouse that handled your sentencing.
Unlike applying for a simple background check, getting court documents requires precision. Most criminal matters in the province are handled by the Provincial Court of Manitoba, but more serious indictable offences may have been elevated to the Court of King’s Bench. Knowing exactly where to send your federal forms is the key to avoiding frustrating delays in your pardon application.
Step-by-Step Process for Manitoba Court Documents
You cannot skip steps when dealing with the PBC. Here is the standard procedure for an applicant residing in Manitoba to secure their official court records.
Step 1: Obtain Your RCMP Fingerprint Results
Before contacting any courthouse in Manitoba, you must have your official RCMP criminal record check in hand. Visit a local accredited fingerprinting agency in Winnipeg or your local RCMP detachment. The results mailed to you from Ottawa will list the exact dates of your convictions and the cities where they occurred, which tells you exactly which courthouse to contact.
Step 2: Locate the Correct Manitoba Courthouse
Use your RCMP check to determine the court location. 📍 If you were sentenced in Winnipeg, you will likely need to contact the Law Courts building on York Avenue. If your offence occurred in a rural area, you must contact the regional court centre (such as Portage la Prairie or Dauphin) that had jurisdiction over your case.
Step 3: Submit the Federal Court Information Form
Download the official “Court Information Form” from the federal Record Suspension application guide. Fill out the top section with your personal information and the exact charges. Submit this to the court clerk in Manitoba, along with their required administrative fee. The clerk will research your archived file, fill out the bottom section, and stamp it with an official seal.
Step 4: Resolve Any Outstanding Fines
Manitoba courts are very strict about unpaid fines. 💰 If the court clerk discovers that you still owe a victim surcharge or a restitution order from a decade ago, they will note it on the form. Your Record Suspension waiting period cannot begin until that debt is paid in full. If you owe money, pay it immediately at the court registry and get a stamped receipt.
How Much Does it Cost in Manitoba?
Applying for a Record Suspension involves multiple small fees spread across federal, municipal, and provincial agencies.
| Expense Type | Estimated Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Manitoba Court Information Fee | Approx. $20 per court location |
| RCMP Fingerprint Check | $25 to $75 (Depending on the private agency) |
| Winnipeg Police Local Record Check | Approx. $50 to $70 |
| Parole Board of Canada Application Fee | $50 (Federal fee) |
How Long Does the Process Take?
The time it takes to retrieve court documents in Manitoba depends heavily on the age of your conviction. For recent convictions, the court clerk can often process the request within 2 to 4 weeks. For older files that have been sent to off-site provincial archives, it can take 6 to 8 weeks to retrieve the documents.
Once you have gathered all your court documents, police checks, and filled out the federal forms, the Parole Board of Canada generally takes 6 to 12 months to review your file and grant your Record Suspension. 🕑
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I go to the Provincial Court or Court of King’s Bench?
The vast majority (over 90%) of criminal cases in Manitoba are resolved in the Provincial Court of Manitoba. However, if you had a jury trial or faced very serious indictable offences (like murder or aggravated assault), your case may have been heard in the Court of King’s Bench. Your RCMP check or old legal documents will usually indicate which court you need.
What if my conviction was in a youth court?
Youth records are treated differently under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. In most cases, youth records are automatically sealed or destroyed after a specific waiting period and do not require a formal Record Suspension. However, if you were transferred to adult court, you must follow the adult pardon process.
Will the court mail the documents back to me?
Yes. If you mail the request to the courthouse with a self-addressed stamped envelope and the correct payment, the clerk will mail the certified documents back to you. You do not always have to appear in person, which is helpful if you no longer live in Manitoba.
What if I have convictions in Manitoba and Ontario?
You must obtain a separate Court Information form from every single courthouse where you were convicted. If you were sentenced in Winnipeg and Toronto, you must contact both the Manitoba and Ontario provincial courts and include both sets of documents in your final application to the federal government.
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