Background Checks and Criminal Records Increasing in Canada

Throughout the United States, the process of obtaining background checks and criminal records has become commonplace. While the act of learning about potential candidates before making a hire continues to increase here, other countries are catching on to the idea.

American workers in several industries have seen an increase in background checks as of late. Anyone who works with children, such as teachers; anyone who works with vulnerable people, such as caretakers in nursing homes; those in the church; those hired by state and city governments; and journalists are now all likely to undergo some sort of background check before being hired.

Most recently, employers in Canada seem to have taken notice of the effectiveness of background checks, resulting in an increased demand for the service. Last year, police officers in Ottawa processed more than 40,000 criminal record checks and report that demand for the service is continuing to grow. The BC Concessionaires also recently reported that requests for employee background checks have increased by 40 percent during the last year.

One of the main reasons background checks are increasing in Canada is that security licensing for certain professions has become mandatory. At the same time, companies that are not legally required to perform background checks have begun to do so anyway.

For example, construction companies working on schools are conducting background checks on applicants, because they would be around children. Dentists who deal with children also have been undergoing background checks.

However, not everyone is on board with the idea of increasing background checks. One group in particular, the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, claims employers often unnecessarily invade people's privacy.

Part of the concern, according to an article by The Vancouver Sun, is that background checks often return more information than employers ask for, and it is up to the employer to keep that information confidential and disregard it from the background check.

British Columbia already has legislation requiring workers who deal with children or vulnerable adults to undergo background checks, but the law would have to be expanded in order to include workers who may come into contact with children.

The law currently states that employers may collect the minimum amount of information that is necessary and relevant, meaning employers have to justify the reason for conducting a background check on certain types of workers.

In addition, British Columbia's Human Rights Code protects convicts by prohibiting discrimination against job applicants who have been convicted of a crime that is unrelated to the employment they seek.