Harper eliminated pardons in 2012 replacing it with more expensive, rigorous and restrictive “record suspensions” making it more difficult for those who have committed a crime in the past but have reformed and rehabilitated themselves over time to get their criminal record cleared. By reducing funding to the National Parole Board Harper has effectively terminated the process for the backlog of 6,000 pardon applications (who paid $150) they haven’t yet got around to. Those people will now have to abandon their application, re-apply, pay the new $631 fee and wait some more. Welcome to Harper country.
Parole Board says no more funding to clear old pardons applications in backlog | News1130.