By Anna Sergeyeva
Imagine that you just had an interview for your dream job or you found the perfect apartment. You think everything went well but never got a call back. What could be the reason? You may have a criminal record. More and more companies and landlords are using background checks to screen their potential employees or tenants.
The RCMP says that roughly 1 in 8 adults living in Canada have a criminal record. Having a record, even for a minor offence, could follow you for the rest of your life. The best solution to this problem is to get a Canadian pardon. Azmairnin Jadavji, president of Pardon Services Canada says “that a lot of these offences are done by people in their late teens or 20s, [who] then become our clients in their mid-30s. By that time they’ve got families and are trying to get their careers going”.
The Canadian Pardon application process is a lengthy one, made even longer by the new requirements from the Parole Board of Canada. Many clients call in to our office discouraged that they cannot find work. There is a lot of discrimination and stigma associated with having a criminal record. So much, that it even got the attention of one of Canada’s leading business men, Kevin O’Leary, who in 2012 started a show on CBC called Redemption Inc. He recognized that individuals with a criminal record in their past face barriers to employment. Curious about how to apply for a pardon?
The list of companies who are afraid of damaging their image by hiring former offenders is increasing everyday. At least 50 percent of Canadian employers now perform some kind of a background check. So clearly, having a Canadian criminal record can interfere with your career ambitions. By acquiring a Canadian Pardon you invest in your future. It gives you the freedom and the peace of mind to explore every opportunity available. At Pardon Services Canada we can help you achieve that freedom by providing valuable information and guidance during your pardon application process.
So what do you do while you wait for your Canadian Pardon to process? There are companies that are not afraid to give individuals a second chance. Inner City Renovation Inc. in Winnipeg, MB, Turn Around Couriers in Toronto, ON, and HAVE Culinary Training Society in Vancouver, BC are just some of the companies are just some of the companies that provide opportunities to individuals with barriers to employment.
One in Eight Canadians | Infographics