Ottawa police reinstating fees for some volunteer background checks
You will soon have to pay to get some volunteer background checks from Ottawa police.
A report for the Ottawa Police Services Board recommends reinstating the fees for the Level 3, Volunteer Vulnerable Sector Check.
The board passed a motion in October 2020 to waive the fees for volunteer background checks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The volunteer background check fees were described as a barrier to new volunteers, with the pandemic creating financial strains in the community," staff say in the report for Monday's Ottawa Police Services Board meeting. The fees were slated to be reinstated once Ottawa entered Stage 3 of the Reopening Action Plan.
The Level 3, Vulnerable Sector Check is for applicants seeking employment and/or volunteering in a position of authority or trust relative to vulnerable persons in Canada only. The fee for the volunteer application is $20.80.
Residents will no longer have to pay for the Level 1, Volunteer Criminal Record Check and the Level 2, Volunteer Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, after the Ontario government introduced legislation to waive the volunteer background check applications fees starting April 1. The Ministry of the Solicitor General, Public Safety Division amended the Police Record Checks Reform Act to reduce barriers for volunteers.
Staff say the Level 3, Volunteer Vulnerable Sector Check is still subject to fees.
"Due to the sensitive nature of vulnerable sector record checks, these files tend to be more work-intensive to ensure the accuracy and safety of those groups," the report says.
The Level 3 Volunteer Vulnerable Sector Check application will generate $504,000 in revenue.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.