Employers are increasingly asking their job applicants to
consent to police record checks (often referred to as background
checks).
In some circumstances, these checks are necessary to protect
vulnerable people, such as for positions where the applicant will
be working with children, elders or persons with disabilities. In
other cases, the checks are used simply as an additional screening
tool.
Either way, it is important for employers requesting background
checks to understand the privacy and human rights implications that
arise when requesting and using this type of information.
The Ontario Police Record Checks Reform
Act
The Ontario Police Record Checks Reform Act (the
"PRCRA") provides a set of standards that govern
how police record checks are conducted and disclosed in the
province.
