4 million Canadians have a criminal record. They deserve a chance at a future.

Today, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Fairchances.ca website and the start of our social media outreach to grow Canada’s very first Fair Chances Coalition.

The Fair Chances Coalition is a group of cross-sector Canadian employers, HR professionals, recruitment-related businesses and nonprofits who are committed to advancing equity and opportunity for all Canadians, including the 4 million people who have a criminal record.

We know that employment transforms lives and uplifts communities. So it’s no surprise that finding employment is a critical factor for enabling people who’ve been involved in the criminal justice system to effectively reintegrate into society.

But because of the widespread stigma of a criminal record – a stigma rooted in stereotypes and misconceptions – and the growing use of background checks, millions of Canadians are denied the chance to build a productive future for themselves and their families.

So what is Fair Chance Hiring??

Fair Chance Hiring is built on a simple idea: that every qualified candidate has the right to a fair assessment that’s free from unfair stereotypes and assumptions about their life background.

Fair Chance Hiring doesn’t mean preferential treatment and it doesn’t mean lowering the bar. Instead, it’s about creating a level playing field by giving employers the knowledge and awareness they need to individually assess applicants who may have criminal records, and do their part to break down systemic, unfair barriers to employment.

Fair Chance Hiring is a spectrum of hiring policies, best practices, and training that enable employers to fairly assess candidates who have a criminal record. We know different industries have different considerations and obligations when it comes to Fair Chance Hiring practices. The good news is there’s an entry point for everyone. ?We’re here to help provide guidance on easy steps your company can take to get started.?

Why is Fair Chance Hiring urgent and essential??

Racialized and marginalized groups are vastly over-represented among people with criminal records. This includes Black and Indigenous people, as well as people who have experienced mental illness, addiction, homelessness, trauma, or poverty. These groups are so highly over-represented because, in Canada, they are often unjustly over-policed, over-incarcerated, and treated in biased ways by the criminal justice system.

Fair Chance Hiring is an effective way to advance social equity and it’s already widespread. In the United States, more than 40 states and 150 cities have adopted the Fair Chance Hiring policies since they were first championed by the White House in 2009. And many Fair Chance Hiring practices are already required by law in British Columbia, Quebec and across Australia.

Fair Chance Hiring is good for business:

• It aligns with consumer values – our representative survey of 1,500 Canadians in 2020 showed that more than 80% of Canadians across demographics strongly support employers giving people with criminal records a fair chance.
• It helps employers respond to a time of severe labour shortages by expanding their talent pool.
• It’s supported by years of research showing that employees with criminal records have lower turnover, equal or higher performance, equal or lower recruitment cost, and no increased risk of misconduct.

Who’s in the Coalition and how do I join?

The Fair Chances Coalition is funded by the Metcalf Foundation and led by our team at the John Howard Society of Ontario. We’re proud to stand alongside our four founding partners: the City of Toronto, Prince’s Trust Canada, First Work, and Building Up.

If you’re an employer who’s committed to equity and inclusion, joining the Fair Chances Coalition is a unique and timely opportunity for your organization to take leadership in advancing workplace equity.

We know organizations and HR departments have been under a lot of pressure since the start of the pandemic. Joining the Fair Chance Coalition is about committing to a set of values and starting a journey of longer-term change.

Learn more about how Fair Chance Hiring can add value to your organization and how it’s easy to get started: visit us at Fairchances.ca and connect with us at [email protected].

What’s next and how can I support the Coalition??

Over the next several months, we’ll be actively publishing on social media using the #fairchances and #fairchancehiring hashtags and we’ll also be releasing educational content co-developed with our professional partners on how to get started with Fair Chance Hiring.

Here’s some ways you can support the Coalition right now:

• Follow us on social media (Twitter @jhsontario, LinkedIn) and help amplify our message by using our hashtags, sharing with your network, or posting about the importance Fair Chances
• Tap into your network to help connect us with leading industry organizations, HR professionals, and decision makers at large companies and nonprofits
• Consider partnering with the John Howard Society of Ontario to support and enhance the work of the Fair Chances Coalition

Thank you so much for your time and attention and we look forward to growing the Fair Chances Coalition together.