Background Checks

Anyone working in child care services, whether they are administrators, in charge of care services, assistants, replacements, volunteers, interns or involved in the transportation of children, paid or unpaid, must undergo an absence of impediment check.

Obtaining a memorandum of understanding

In order to submit a request for background verification, child care service providers must first sign a memorandum of understanding with the SPVM concerning the screening of people who currently work or may be assigned to work with vulnerable persons.

To do this, please send us the following documents, duly completed and signed:

1. The “Daycare, CPE or Coordination Office Memorandum of Understanding Request” form available upon request at protocoles.entente@spvm.qc.ca
2. A copy of your charter, letters patent, or certificate of incorporation
3. A copy of the document from the Ministère de l’Emploi et dela Solidaritésociale indicating the registration number issued by this ministry to your establishment

These should be sent by e-mail, regular mail or fax to:

Module vérification des antécédents
Service de police de la Ville de Montréal
1441, rue Saint-Urbain
Montréal (Québec) H2X 2M6
Tel.: 514 280-0002
Fax: 514 280-9056
protocoles.entente@spvm.qc.ca

Obtaining a verification request form

Once the memorandum of understanding has been signed, you will be given the verification request forms during a short information session.

What is checked?

• Past or present behaviour that may raise reasonable concern for the physical or psychological safety of children with whom the candidate will be called upon to work
• Whether the candidate has been charged with or convicted of a criminal offence related to the skills or the behaviour required to hold a position within a day care centre or CPE
• Whether the candidate has committed an offence of a sexual nature that is specified in the Schedule to the Criminal Records Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-47, even if the person has obtained a pardon

Disclosure of findings

If the police checks uncover information indicating the existence of an impediment within the meaning of the law, the SPVM investigating officer will notify the representative of the day care centre, CPE or coordination office that such checks have been completed.

The findings of police checks are never communicated directly to such representatives. Only candidates, should they wish to, can submit these findings to the appropriate representative for evaluation.

Cost

There is no charge for background checks for volunteers, administrators and other adults living in a residence where child care services are provided.

A background check for a paid individual costs $75. This fee is subject to indexing on January 1 of each year, as specified in the By-law concerning fees of the urban agglomeration of Montréal.

Any false statement about the status of the candidates checked will lead to the cancellation of the memorandum of understanding.

To find out more

+ Vérification d'absence d'empêchement - Ministère de la Famille et des Aînés (available in French only)

Under the terms of the Act to amend the Education Act and the Act respecting private education (2005, chapter 16), any person who may be assigned to work, is working, or regularly in contact with the minor-age students of a private school or school board must, before being hired, or at the request of the relevant educational institution, hand in a declaration concerning their judicial record. 

The institution may, or can be obligated to, as the case may be, have this declaration checked by a police force.

Obtaining a memorandum of understanding

In order to submit a request for background verification, educational institutions and school bus operators must first sign a memorandum of understanding with the SPVM concerning the verification of judicial records.

To do this, please send us the following documents, duly completed and signed:

Educational institutions

1. The “Educational Institution Memorandum of Understanding Request” form available upon request at protocoles.entente@spvm.qc.ca

2. Adeclaration or letter from the institution designating the person, as well as a substitute, who will be authorized to sign the memorandum of understanding on behalf of the institution

School bus operators

1. The “School Bus Operator Memorandum of Understanding Request” form available upon request at protocoles.entente@spvm.qc.ca

2. The “Administrator–External Employer Preliminary Verification Request” form for each administrator of your company, available upon request at protocoles.entente@spvm.qc.ca

3. Adeclaration or letter from your company designating the person, as well as a substitute, who will be authorized to sign the memorandum of understanding on behalf of the company

These should be sent by e-mail, regular mail or fax to:

Module vérification des antécédents
Service de police de la Ville de Montréal
1441, rue Saint-Urbain
Montréal (Québec) H2X 2M6
Tel.: 514 280-0002
Fax: 514 280-9056
protocoles.entente@spvm.qc.ca

Obtaining a verification request form

Once the memorandum of understanding has been signed, the procedure to follow for the processing of declarations concerning judicial records will be explained to you during a short information session.

What is checked?

• Any conviction for a criminal or penal offence committed inCanadaor elsewhere, unless a pardon has been granted for that offence
• Any charge still pending for a criminal or penal offence committed inCanadaor elsewhere
• Any court order subsisting against the applicant inCanadaor elsewhere

Cost

There is no charge for the verification of declarations concerning judicial records for volunteers or interns.

Each verification of declarations concerning judicial records for a paid individual costs $75. This fee is subject to indexing on January 1 of each year, as specified in the By-law concerning fees of the urban agglomeration of Montréal.

Any false statement about the status of the candidates checked will lead to the cancellation of the memorandum of understanding.

To find out more

Ministère de l’Éducation – Antécédents judiciaires

Although to date there is no legal requirement for these sectors to do so, they should have the police records of anyone working with vulnerable clients checked. Employee screening is the responsibility of organizations or businesses that must satisfy an “obligation of diligence.”*

Obtaining a memorandum of understanding

In order to submit a request for background verification, businesses and non-profit organizations must first sign a memorandum of understanding with the SPVM concerning the screening of people who currently work or may be assigned to work with vulnerable persons.

To do this, please send us the following documents, duly completed and signed:

1. The “Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations – Memorandum of Understanding Request” form available upon request at protocoles.entente@spvm.qc.ca

2. The “Administrator–External Employer Preliminary Verification Request” form for each administrator of your company, available upon request at protocoles.entente@spvm.qc.ca

3. A letter clearly describing the mission of your organization or business, its objectives and the types of clients it serves

4. A copy of the charter or letters patent of your organization or business

They should be sent by e-mail, regular mail or fax to:

Module vérification des antécédents 
Service de police de la Ville de Montréal
1441, rue Saint-Urbain
Montréal (Québec) H2X 2M6
Tel.: (514) 280-0002
Fax: (514) 280-9056
protocoles.entente@spvm.qc.ca

We offer two types of memorandum of understanding

1) Regular memorandum of understanding

When the applicant’s background check indicates a prior incident that is incompatible with the proposed position, an “end of research” form will be sent to you. The investigating officer will not disclose any information regarding the incident in question to you. It will be possible for you to know more about the findings of the investigation only if the candidate decides to submit them for your evaluation.

2) Memorandum of understanding involving disclosure of the investigation’s findings

After obtaining the consent of the candidate, we will disclose the details of his or her records. It will then be up to you to consider the relevance of the record in relation to the proposed position.

Obtaining a verification request form

Once the memorandum of understanding has been signed, you will be given the verification request forms during a short information session.  

What is checked?

• Any conviction or charge for a criminal offence incompatible with the position being sought
• Any conviction for an offence listed in the Schedule to the Criminal Records Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-47, even if the person has been granted a pardon
• Any misconduct or information raising concern that the candidate could endanger the physical or psychological safety of the vulnerable persons under his or her care

Cost

There is no charge for verifying the records of a volunteer for a non-profit organization based in Montréal.

Each verification of records for a paid individual costs $75. This fee is subject to indexing on January 1 of each year, as specified in the By-law concerning fees of the urban agglomeration of Montréal.

Any false statement about the status of the candidates checked will lead to the cancellation of the memorandum of understanding.

* Obligation of diligence  

The concept of obligation of diligence determines the relationship existing between two persons, i.e., between two persons or a person and an organization, as well as their mutual obligations. In particular, it means taking reasonable measures to take care of another person’s interests and protect them from prejudicial action. This common law principle has been enshrined in various municipal, provincial, federal and international laws.

Source: Fédération des centres d’action bénévole du Québec

To find out more

Insurance Bureau of Canada– Volunteer Selection, Screening and Training