Saskatchewanians waiting for criminal pardons may be forced to start over

Hundreds of Saskatchewanians who applied for a pardon of their criminal record may have to start the entire process over again.  

A new federal system for pardons, introduced in March, changed the rules and increased the application fee from a maximum of $150 to $630, a fourfold increase.  

That has led to accusations of a two-tiered system. 

Anyone who has paid the new higher fees since March is having their application processed more quickly.  

In Alberta, Jeff Stromquist applied six months ago to erase an alcohol driving conviction that dates back 27 years.  

Now he’s been told he may have to wait another two years unless he reapplies at the new higher rate.  

His pardon application has already cost him $150 plus the cost of hiring a legal document company to do the paperwork.  

“I mean that’s like queue jumping, like being in a line in a store and someone jumping in front of you. It’s a two tiered system where if you pay more money then you can get through quicker.”  

Under the new system approval times are supposed to be much shorter.  

Pardons for summary convictions should take 6 months and up to one year for more serious charges. 

The parole board says new applications are being processed faster, while older ones are taking longer.