In recent years, the role of the criminal background check has become very important in the business climate of Canada.  The number of people and companies that criminal background check Canada residents increase annually, with a number of new customers discovering the benefits of these background check companies and their reports.  It is estimated that the background check industry has become a multi-billion dollar industry within the last few years.

When it comes to a person's background Canada check criminal records in much the same way that the United States and many other countries check the criminal records of its citizens.  Government databases contain the records of each criminal conviction that has happened in each province of Canada and are linked to the individual's name or known aliases.  

Authorized government personnel and select others have access to the most secure records, but most of the criminal convictions that occur in Canada are considered to be public record and can be disclosed in the background check.  The ability to access and criminal background check Canada government records can be obtained on the internet through numerous government and private sector websites.

There are a number of different reasons why being able to search Canada records for an individual's criminal history is important.  Many companies use the information found in the background checks to determine which people should be given positions of trust within their organization.  Private employers also use criminal background checks to screen applicants before hiring them to work in their home or care for their children.

When a criminal background check is performed in Canada, public records from all of the provinces are searched for the name, birth date, or social security number of the person being investigated.  In some cases, public records from the United States are searched as well, because the border between the countries is porous and individuals are crossing back and forth every day.

The criminal background check Canada releases can be as detailed as the requestor would like it to be.  Some people request that only the records of a certain province be searched for information about the subject while others request that the records of all of the provinces be searched.  If the person has only lived in a single area for their adult lifetime, there is no reason for the other provinces to be searched for their records.

The types of records that are returned in the criminal report can also be selected to include only those records that the requestor is interested in.  The type of information that may be contained within the report includes misdemeanor and felony convictions, case numbers, current status of the case, and final dispositions.  The records can be searched back as far as ten years.