Ottawa

How much for a pardon?

The government’s proposal to quadruple the fee on pardon applications is met with resistance.

As required under the federal User Fees Act, the Parole Board of Canada — the body that vets pardon applications — held a February consultation to gather feedback on the proposal. In response, 1,074 individuals and organizations said they did not agree with the proposed fee increase, while 12 were supportive, says a summary report by the parole board…

The report says people opposed to the fee increase most often said it would: pose a financial burden for applicants, with many unable to pay the increased fee; make it difficult or impossible for people to apply for a pardon who need one to help them obtain employment or pursue their education; and amount to further punishment to that already imposed by the court. “Some also indicated that they thought the proposed fee increase was politically driven.”

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