Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham speaks at a rally prior to the 2024 Winnipeg Pride Parade, on Sunday, June 2, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Daniel Crump)
Mayor Scott Gillingham has committed to making volunteer criminal record checks free for eligible Winnipeg residents as part of his re-election platform.
Winnipeg currently charges $65 for a volunteer criminal record check, the highest fee among major Canadian cities, while many other municipalities offer the service at no cost.
“Winnipeg is powered by people who give their time to help others,” said Gillingham, adding no one should have to pay $65 to coach a team or support a community organization.
Approximately 6,500 Winnipeggers obtain volunteer criminal record checks each year, according to the campaign. Eliminating the fee would remove a barrier to volunteering and help nonprofit organizations recruit needed volunteers.
Gillingham noted many organizations currently cover the cost of checks for their volunteers, diverting limited funding away from programs and services.
If re-elected, Gillingham would establish a voucher program allowing eligible volunteer organizations to provide free criminal record checks to Winnipeg residents volunteering with them, with the city replacing the lost fee revenue so there is no impact on Winnipeg Police Service operations.
Gillingham says the voucher program could launch as early as May 2027 and no later than January 1, 2028, through the city’s multi-year budget process.
The program would apply to Winnipeg residents requiring a check for an eligible volunteer position, and would not cover employment-related checks, RCMP checks, or checks for non-Winnipeg residents.
Friday’s announcement was the first from Gillingham’s re-election campaign platform. The civic election is October 28.
