A tale of crime and punishment

The mild-mannered building contractor pushes his cap back and squints into the rubble of his latest job.

“I passed everything they threw at me,” he says wistfully, “all the tests. Medical, aptitude, etc. They called me and said I was hired, they just had to do a background check. I told them up front what it was going to show, and they decided to not hire me.”

The man we’ll call Jack is referring to Bombardier, a Canadian multinational aerospace and transportation company that avows it is the world’s leading manufacturer of planes and trains. Bombardier didn’t care that Jack was actually overqualified for the position he’d applied for; because he had been in trouble with the law years before and hadn’t obtained a record suspension (formerly known as a pardon), he would not be able to pursue his dream of working for the aerospace giant. Though he now is content in his role as a building contractor, juggling fatherhood (he has a six month old daughter, Ashley) and a crew of tilers, electricians and labourers who help him transform kitchens and baths across the GTA, he does so knowing that self-employment is one of the few options open to him.

A criminal record stops many from getting the career they want

Jack was brave enough to apply at Bombardier, knowing the likely outcome. At least he proved to himself that he was capable of doing the job, before his hopes were dashed by his criminal record. Others don’t even try anymore. Consider the story of a Toronto native, *Mara Girling. She responded to the Dominion question, Let us know how a criminal record has affected your life. Here is her story, in her own words:

“This has happened to me a lot: I’ve done criminal record checks and what comes back to me is contact the R.C.M.P. Right there I give up. I’ve done it and never received a response, I fear something bad over this record – it stops me from wanting to apply for many things, even jobs. No one wants to hire me if I have one, and if I lie, well I still get screwed! I cannot pursue the career I want or a few others I like, I am very limited to what I can do legally! My record is terrible and I still have to wait about 6 yrs before I can apply [for a pardon]. My 10 year wait started since I paid my fines (the federal ones) as well. It really is BS we have to wait that long, some of us want to move on and up in life. It is a tough road sometimes, but when I do get going, I hope to work on this issue first!”

Mara is currently enrolled in college and still plans to obtain her Bachelor’s degree in social work, despite the fact that she will most likely have to wait until she is finally pardoned to obtain employment in her field. Because the Conservative government has dramatically increased wait times for obtaining a pardon to 10 years for indictable offenses, hundreds of thousands of Canadians like Mara will just have to wait…and wait…and wait…putting their lives on hold until justice can truly be served.

If you are a Canadian citizen like Jack or Mara who has gotten their life together and wishes to rejoin society with all of its benefits and rewards, don’t delay. Working within strict timelines, we get your record suspension application started before the waiting period has elapsed so you can get your file sealed the second you are eligible. Call us today!

*Some names have been changed to protect the anonymity of interview subjects and protect them from the stigma of having a criminal record.

Call TOLL FREE 1-888-890-1321

or fill out the online inquiry below and have a qualified agent help you see if you are eligible to clear your criminal record with a Pardon, or gain access to the United States with an Entry Waiver.