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New Pardon Legislation


The Conservative Government has passed new legislation regarding Pardons in Canada. The Omnibus Bill (Bill C10), also known as the Safe Streets and Communities Act, was officially passed by parliament March 12, 2012.

Bill C10 amends the Criminal Records Act, among other Acts. Below is a summary of the new law as it pertains to Pardons in Canada:

The word “Pardon” is now replaced with the word “Record Suspension.” A Record Suspension has the exact same affect as a Pardon. It is just a change in terminology.

To be granted a Record Suspension:

Eligiblity Dates:

Waiting periods to be eligible for a Record Suspension have changed as follows:

Summary Convictions: From 3 years wait to 5 years

Indictable Convictions: From 5 years wait to 10 years

Please note that the waiting periods begin to run once the sentence imposed by the court is satisfied (ie: jail time served; fine paid).

The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) may order a Record Suspension if it is satisfied that:

In determining whether the ordering of a Record Suspension would bring the administration of justice into disrepute, the PBC may consider:

These measures will come into force as follows:

To learn more about Bill C10, you may visit our blogs and search under: “Bill C10”, “Bill C23”, “New Pardon Legislation”.

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