Procrastinators. I have never understood them. Actually, that’s not entirely true. I used to be one up until my first year of University when I realized that leaving things to the last minute was not the best idea.
So I cleaned up my act and learned how to get things done on time. Especially the things that I most dread doing. The most unpleasant tasks are probably the ones that should be accomplished first.
I’m not here to judge. I realize that we all have flaws and that sometimes things happen that require immediate attention. However, my priority, between the hours of 8:30 and 5:00, is getting people their pardons and waivers. My job is to ensure that my staff administers client files as quickly as possible. But sometimes my staff can’t move forward on a file without a little cooperation from the applicant. And so it is that clients have our somewhat insistent emails and phone calls to look forward to on a monthly basis.
There are consequences to not getting a pardon or waiver together in a timely fashion. Aside from the obvious problems of having to wait longer for a pardon, clients also need to consider that certain documents in a file are time-sensitive and can expire.
I have one client whose Local Police Check was completed June 28th, 2010. Local Police Checks are valid for 6 months only. I have been calling my client once a month since July to see if he has been able to track down his previous addresses since and today, he finally sent them to me.
Unfortunately, there is no way that I can get his application to the Parole Board before the 28th of November (6 months from the date this Police Check was completed). His Police Check is going to expire.
Another thing to consider is that the pardon program itself could transform in the future. Just as July 2010 unexpectedly saw some major changes to pardon eligibility procedures, we have no way of knowing what variations may or may not be implemented in the coming years. Just because you are eligible for a pardon today does not mean that you necessarily will be 6 month from now. I don’t say this to scare people, just something to keep in mind.
At the end of the day, we are here to help you and we truly do have your best interests at heart. If you are having trouble with something, let us know! We may be able to offer some good suggestions that will ultimately help you to get your pardon faster!
Birgit Granberg