Applying for work in Canada with a British criminal record?
 

I have made some previous posts on the subject but didn't really get a response I was looking for.

I was born in Canda and hence have a Canadian passport. I am about to start a degree in this country and will move to Canada once I've finished (I might actually decide to do the degree in Canada, I haven't made up my mind yet). Unfortunately whilst living in Britain I have managed to recently obtain a criminal record.

I am desperate to know, when I eventually apply for work in Canada and they do a criminal records check (which they will do for work as a pharmacist, which is what I intend to become), do they only check for criminal records in the places you've lived in during the last five years previous to your application? Meaning that if I move to Canada and live there for at least five years they will only check to see if I've got a criminal record in Canada rather than in Britain?

I'm wondering whether I can escape the consequences of my British criminal record by moving over there. Unfortunately because my criminal convition is for the possession of a class A drug, which I do regret, the conviction will never become unspent and in this country I would always have to declare it to employers.

Is there any reason why they would check for a criminal record in Britain? I have a Canadian passport and am therefore Canadian since I was born there, so if I study there and live there for five years as I said, can I manage to get work without them finding out about the conviction?

Re: Applying for work in Canada with a British criminal record?
 

Last time you brought this up, you referred to a caution for shoplifting/theft. Now you're talking about a conviction for possession of Class A drugs. There is a bit of a difference there.

Re: Applying for work in Canada with a British criminal record?
 

Have you had an offer from a uni? If so, you're lucky. I just googled Bradford as I know they have a superb pharmacy course, and their admissions site says this:-

"Because clinical work will involve patients who may be vulnerable, such as children, the elderly and people with learning disabilities, offers may be subject to satisfactory background checks by the police."

You might slip through the net, you might even get a license to practise, but you'll always be looking over your shoulder. The geography of where the offence was committed doesn't mean you're not obliged to disclose it. There was a Dutch dentist recently in the UK with a conviction in Holland for incitement to kidnap and throwing a colleague down some stairs...she got away with it for a month or two before being found out and struck off. Again.

These things have a habit of catching up with you sooner or later, and when you get caught, you'll have a new conviction for failing to disclose the old one. Even if you go into industry rather than the dispensing side of things, you might find problems...I'm no expert but I'd be loathe to employ a pharmacist with a previous Class A possession.

Sorry to say that it might be prudent to rethink your career choice.

Re: Applying for work in Canada with a British criminal record?
 

I would suggest running a meth operation on a trailer park.

(pharmacist + class A's = alternative lifestyle / career choice)

Rich.

Yes.... I am back, all is well, news and update later zzzzz.

Re: Applying for work in Canada with a British criminal record?
 

hi, just wandering if you had considered getting a pardon? if the nature of your crime wasnt too serious and a certain amount of time has lapsed where you have had no charges against you since ( i think it is 3 years here in canada), you may be eligible for a pardon . this would mean that your criminal record would vanish . call your closest police station and find out . it might be worth a try.... ps , no , i am not a criminal , just seem to know these things.. :D .

Re: Applying for work in Canada with a British criminal record?
 

Here is the Affidavit of Good Character that the Ontario College of Pharmacists requires you to sign under oath in the presence of a Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths. A quick Internet search suggests that this requirement, or something like it, is fairly standard amongst the provincial associations of pharmacists across Canada.
I did an Internet search on this topic once before, when you asked similar questions in relation to a shop lifting record. Back then I found a link to an organisation in Saskatchewan. I can't remember if it was a university that offered a degree in pharmacy or an association of pharmacists. A quick Google search does not readily bring up the link now.

In any event, I recall that the organisation in question stated that applicants were not to have criminal records. However, it did say that the circumstances surrounding a past conviction would be taken into consideration and would not necessarily preclude an applicant's admission to the organisation. It stated that the nature of the offence, the person's age at the time at which the offence had occurred, the length of time that had elapsed since the offence, etc., would be weighed.

At the time of your earlier query I thought you might have a chance of acquiring credentials as a pharmacist. However, now that you mention a conviction for possession of a Class A drug, my gut feeling is that your chances are considerably reduced.

As Biiiiink has stated, if you try to hide this conviction, you may end up with a record for an offence that is considered to be even more serious than the original offence. Even supposing Canadian authorities didn't think to check on your police record during the time that you'd lived in the UK, if it ever was discovered that you'd lied under oath, you'd be guilty of perjury.

I feel sympathy for you, but I really do think your best bet may be to move on to Plan B at this point.

Re: Applying for work in Canada with a British criminal record?
 

What you describe is not called a "pardon" in the UK.

The main piece of UK legislation in this area is the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974:
http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/rehabact.htm

If you go into the local police station in the United Kingdom and start asking about a 'pardon' they'll probably have a good laugh at your expense.


Jeremy