Does a pardon erase a criminal record?
No, a pardon does not erase a criminal record. Under the Criminal Records Act, all records of cases in which a pardon has been granted must be stored separately from other records. As a result, the National Parole Board (NPB) and the RCMP have developed procedures to deal with both hard copy criminal record files and criminal record information on the CPIC system. The RCMP website also provides the following information regarding pardons and international travel: a) Through international agreements, the RCMP shares criminal records information with foreign authorities who may register this information in their databank. b) If you have been convicted of an offence, you may subsequently be refused entry into another country, even if you have since been granted a pardon in Canada. c) Many foreign countries, including the U.S., do not recognize a Canadian pardon unless you produce a copy for their evaluation.
