In 1996 I received a 90 day sentence to be served on weekends ( I was working and supporting a young family) for a nonviolent drug offence. I have had steady employment since that time up till two years ago, now every employer that I approach overlooks my 20 year work history and automatically disqualifies me from obtaining employment for something I did a life time ago.  I am not talking about trying to get employment working with money or vulnerable people ... I'm talking about basic manual labour, warehouse jobs!

It has gotten to the point where I purposely lie on my application about my conviction just so they can waste their money on doing the search or hopefully don't actually check and they might end up offering me the job!

As for anyone thinking "just pay for the pardon" it's not a matter of just sending in a cheque, it is expensive (especially for someone not working) and a very long process which can take up to two years once you've completed the mandatory eligibility time.