A record suspension — formerly called a pardon — is an order under the Criminal Records Act that sets aside a person's criminal record so that it no longer appears on standard criminal record checks. It does not erase the conviction; it seals it. The record can be revoked if the person commits a new offence.
Eligibility for a record suspension depends on the type of offence and the time elapsed since the sentence was completed (including any period of probation or parole). For summary conviction offences, the waiting period is five years. For indictable offences, it is ten years. Certain offences — including sexual offences against children and offences prosecuted by indictment carrying a sentence of life imprisonment — are ineligible for a record suspension.
The application process is administered by the Parole Board of Canada and involves gathering court records, police records, and other documentation. Processing times can be lengthy. A record suspension restores many of the practical benefits lost to a criminal record — improved employment prospects, the ability to travel internationally, and the ability to pass criminal record checks for volunteer work — making it an important step for individuals who have served their sentences and moved forward with their lives.