Yes. Formerly called a “pardon,” a Record Suspension removes a person’s criminal record from the Canadian Police Information Center (CPIC) database for those who have completed their sentence and demonstrated a period of law-abiding activity following this. These waiting periods vary depending on when the offence was committed and the type of offence that was committed. A full list of waiting periods can be found on the website of the Parole Board of Canada.

It is important to note that a record suspension does not erase a convicted offence entirely, and as such it does not guarantee any entry privileges to other countries. A record suspension is also not absolute; it can be revoked in some circumstances, such as being convicted of a certain type of new offence. If this occurs, the criminal record is added back into the CPIC database.

Pardons for cannabis possession in Canada

If the offence for which an individual is seeking a record suspension is that of the simple possession of cannabis, an application can be made upon the completion of their sentence, even if unpaid fines or victim surcharges remain. The process for this type of suspension has been streamlined by the Parole Board of Canada. The offence must have been the simple possession of cannabis, for personal use, with no intent to traffic, in order to qualify for this streamlined process.

Applications for both a Record Suspension and a Cannabis Record Suspension require the applicant to get their fingerprints taken, order an original criminal record as well as a local police record check, fill out the appropriate application forms, available through the Parole Board of Canada, and any other stated requirements. As of January 1, 2022, the fee to apply for a record suspension is $50.00.