Minister has issued directive to RCMP to withhold possession records during background checks.
The government has missed a legislated deadline to fully implement a program that was pitched as a way to help Canadians with cannabis possession records avoid jumping through hoops to obtain formal pardons.
Even though recreational cannabis has been legal in Canada since 2018, having a record for cannabis possession can prevent a person from getting a job or travelling outside the country.
The Liberal government has attempted to pardon Canadians convicted of simple possession. Its primary expedited pardon program saw limited uptake, however, and some Canadians hit logistical roadblocks in their applications.
In response to those concerns, the Liberals’ adopted an NDP amendment to their 2022 criminal justice reform legislation, Bill C-5, that would automatically “sequester” records for simple possession — meaning they would no longer show up on criminal background checks.
In an effort to help people who may have addiction issues, the program also covers possession records for other illicit drugs.
Bill C-5 gave the government two years to sequester all possession records across the country. That deadline passed in November — and Public Safety Canada recently told CBC News that the work of sequestering records is “ongoing.”
Read the full article at CBC News
