Policy 13

Background Check Consent

Consent, official sources, human rights and report retention.

Effective:

SafeHaven conducts background checks for employers, landlords and individuals, only with the written, informed consent of the person being checked.

  • Consent: the person signs a form listing the checks (identity, employment, education, references, credit, criminal record, driver's abstract, public social media).
  • Criminal records: obtained only through official channels (police services or RCMP-accredited providers), and only when relevant to the role.
  • Credit: handled under provincial consumer reporting laws; the person is notified if an adverse decision results.
  • Human rights: information is never used for discriminatory purposes. In Quebec, an employer may not refuse employment for an offence unrelated to the job or for which a pardon was granted.
  • Access and correction: the person may obtain a copy of the report and request correction of errors.
  • Retention: reports kept 1 year, then securely destroyed.