A conviction for Possession of Property Obtained by Crime is a massive red flag for retail employers, often blocking promotions to management. You can completely seal this record from standard CPIC background checks by applying for a Record Suspension from the Parole Board of Canada. The federal processing fee is $50 CAD, and the mandatory wait time is 5 to 10 years after your sentence ends.
Working your way up the retail ladder in Canada takes dedication and hard work. However, if you have a conviction for “Possession of Property Obtained by Crime” (often related to shoplifting, receiving stolen goods, or credit card fraud) on your record, you will hit a brick wall. When large Canadian retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, or Shoppers Drug Mart promote staff to management, they run strict criminal background checks to prevent internal theft and inventory shrinkage. A property crime conviction is virtually an automatic disqualification.
The only way to move past this mistake and secure your career is to legally seal the conviction from your Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) file. 🔒 This is achieved by obtaining a Record Suspension (formerly called a pardon) from the federal government. Once granted, your criminal record is kept strictly separate and will not appear on a standard employment background check. To ensure the complex paperwork is filed perfectly, many applicants choose to hire a Canadian lawyer or pardon agency from our directory.
Step-by-Step Process for Pardoning a Property Crime in Canada
The process of sealing a criminal record is universal across Canada. Whether the offence occurred in Winnipeg, St. John’s, or Victoria, you must follow the strict procedures laid out by the Parole Board of Canada in Ottawa.
Step 1: Serving the Mandatory Waiting Period
You cannot apply for a Record Suspension immediately. ⌛ First, you must complete your entire sentence, which includes paying off any court-ordered restitution to the retail store, paying victim surcharges, and finishing probation. Once the sentence is fully completed, you must wait 5 years if your charge was a summary conviction (typically for stolen property under $5,000), or 10 years if it was an indictable offence (usually for property over $5,000).
Step 2: Collecting CPIC and Court Records
The Parole Board requires absolute proof of your legal history. You must get your fingerprints digitally taken at a local accredited agency to retrieve your RCMP CPIC record. Once you have this, you must contact the specific courthouse where you were sentenced to get a certified copy of your Court Information and proof that all fines were paid. If you lost the receipt from 6 years ago, the courthouse will provide a status document.
Step 3: Obtaining Local Police Records Checks
You must prove that you have been living a quiet, law-abiding life. 👮 You are required to submit a Local Police Records Check from the local police service in every municipality you have resided in over the last 5 years. If you moved between Vancouver and Burnaby, you need checks from both the Vancouver Police Department and the local RCMP detachment.
Step 4: Submitting the Application to Ottawa
Finally, you will compile all these documents along with the Measurable Benefit/Sustained Rehabilitation form. This is where you explain to the Parole Board that sealing this record will allow you to obtain a management position and better support your family. You then mail the complete package and the federal fee to the Parole Board of Canada.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
Investing in a Record Suspension is an investment in your future earning potential. The costs are spread out over several months as you request different documents.
- Federal Application Fee: $50 CAD paid directly to the Receiver General for Canada.
- Digital Fingerprints: Approximately $50 to $85 CAD depending on the agency.
- Court Documents: Usually $20 to $50 CAD per courthouse request.
- Local Police Checks: Generally $30 to $70 CAD per jurisdiction.
- Legal / Agency Fees: Hiring a professional law firm or pardon agency to compile and verify your application typically costs between $800 and $1,500 CAD.
How Long Does the Process Take?
Because you rely on local police and courts to mail you documents, gathering your file can take 3 to 6 months. 📅 Once your finalized application is accepted by the Parole Board of Canada, they are bound by strict service standards. They will process a summary conviction in up to 6 months, and an indictable offence in up to 12 months. Therefore, you should start the process roughly 6 months before your mandatory waiting period is officially over, so you are ready to submit on day one.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will Walmart or Best Buy see my pardoned record?
No. Once the Parole Board of Canada grants your Record Suspension, the conviction is removed from the public CPIC database. When a corporate retailer runs a standard criminal background check, your record will come back completely clear.
Does a theft under $5,000 need a pardon?
Yes. Unless you were given an Absolute or Conditional Discharge, a conviction for theft or possession of stolen property under $5,000 is still a criminal conviction and will stay on your CPIC record forever until a Record Suspension is granted.
What if I have multiple theft charges?
You can still apply, but you only submit one application. The waiting period is calculated from the end of the sentence of your most recent conviction. However, the Parole Board will scrutinize your rehabilitation much more closely if you have a pattern of property crimes.
What happens if I owe restitution to the store?
If the judge ordered you to pay restitution to the retailer and you never paid it, your sentence is not considered complete. Your waiting period will not even begin until you pay the outstanding restitution in full.
Can I travel to the USA after getting my Record Suspension?
The US government does not recognize Canadian pardons. Property crime is often considered a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMT) by the US border. If they see your record, you may be denied entry and require a US Entry Waiver, which a Canadian lawyer can assist with.
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