Contract Security Program: Mandatory Electronic Fingerprinting Coming in Fall 2016
As part of the security screening process for Government of Canada contractors, the Contract Security Program completes a criminal record check in accordance with the Treasury Board Standard on Security Screening. The Contract Security Program conducts criminal record checks through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The RCMP is retiring the name-based criminal record check process in favour of mandatory electronic fingerprinting. This process entails the police service or an accredited fingerprinting company taking a copy of your fingerprints with an electronic scanner. The fingerprints are used by the RCMP only to confirm your identity. After completion of service, the copy of your fingerprints is destroyed. It is not kept or searched for other purposes.
Mandatory electronic fingerprinting is already in place for employees of most government departments; but has not yet been implemented for industry clearances. Once this process is implemented, all new requests for personnel security screening will require confirmation that an electronic fingerprint check has been completed to initiate the criminal record check.
Company security officers will direct their employees to service providers to have their fingerprints taken prior to submitting their application. A confirmation that the fingerprints were taken, along with the employee’s personnel screening forms will be submitted electronically to the Contract Security Program. This change is expected to expedite the time it takes to process screening requests.
The Contract Security Program is working with the RCMP on an implementation plan for industry that will identify how the changes will be rolled out. The new process is expected to be launched in fall 2016. A detailed communiqué on the new process and its requirements will be sent to all company security officers and their alternates closer to the launch date.
For more information, contact the Contract Security Program.
