Canada has announced that it will be legalizing marijuana possession in amounts under 30 grams as early as next year. In the meantime, thousands of Canadians are living with criminal records for possession of this soon to be legal drug.

Criminal records can have enormous consequences on people. They can affect their ability to find a job, enter certain types of educational programs, travel to other countries and volunteer. 

Most people who responded to a government consultation felt the $631 fee is a barrier that prevents Canadians from applying for pardons.

The Canadian Press submitted an access to information request to the government to receive the results of the consultation. Although the full results are not available, the Canadian Press reported that what they received indicated that people felt the $631 was too high for people who need pardons. 

Lift the Burden was pleased to be invited to speak on the Simi Sara Show on CKNW AM980 recently. 

Vice President Chuck Mercier talked about how pardons are an important tool in rehabilitation and how the government can help Canadians get back on track. 

Lift the Burden was pleased to be invited to speak on the Simi Sara Show on CKNW AM980 recently. 

Vice President Chuck Mercier talked about how pardons are an important tool in rehabilitation and how the government can help Canadians get back on track. 

Notre vice-président Charles Mercier a parlé de la campagne Lift the Burden avec Jean-Marc Dufresne de Unique FM.

Chuck Mercier, vice-president of Pardon Services Canada, appeared on the Ian Jessop show on behalf of the Lift the Burden campaign. 

The federal government is acting now to review concerns about the accessibility of pardons, which are now called "record suspensions" for the one in eight Canadians who have criminal records.

Azmairnin Jadavji, president and CEO of Pardon Services Canada, wrote to the Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale last year to advise him of the Lift the Burden campaign and to request support for our appeal for a fairer system.

We had the exciting opportunity to discuss Lift the Burden on the Simi Sara show on Friday, August 14, 2015.