Why some people can't volunteer

The $10 fee the North Bay Police Service charges for criminal background checks discourages lower-income people from volunteering, says the executive director of the Volunteer Centre of the Blue Sky Region.

Kirsten Chamberlain Schmidt, pictured above, brought her concerns to the police services board Thursday.
She requested the fee be dropped, pointing out other police services in Ontario, including Ottawa, do not charge for background checks.

North Bay police chief George Berrigan said background checks used to cost $40 several years ago.
It costs the service $20,000 a year to perform the checks now, he added.


Not able to afford police checks

Chamberlain Schmidt said if the police absorbed their cost on the checks, it would be “a very reasonable amount” to put into crime prevention.

“If we look at the cost associated with one person volunteering at the Early Years Centre and committing a sexual offence while on duty there as a volunteer, that costs the system far more money than the $20,000 that would be invested in it,” Chamberlain Schmidt said.

The $10 fee, Chamberlain Schmidt said, has meant the loss of “hundreds” of potential volunteers.

“Amelia Rising, for example, has said they’ve limited their programs as a result of it. They have very strict screening processes to work with abused women, but they’re not able to afford to do the police checks at all.”


Significant portion to raise

Nor does Chamberlain Schmidt agree with the sentiment expressed by the board that $10 is a reasonable fee for the checks.

“From what I know of most of the board members, they’re employed or retired and well-off people. I think if we would have a focus group of low-income mothers or high school students who want to volunteer, we would find that’s not an accurate reflection,” Chamberlain Schmidt said.

“That $10 fee over at Big Sisters represents $760 dollars a year in their budget. That’s a significant portion to have to raise, and it’s not something you could go out and sell cookies for.”


Compromise position possible

Chamberlain Schmidt said some agencies are even bringing in volunteers without background checks.

“One of these days a situation could arise where someone does get through the system and something happens and that’s suddenly when the police service is going to have to respond as well as the non-profit sector to a tragedy and this is a way of preventing it.”

Board chairman William Ferguson agreed to take the matter under advisement, and Berrigan will prepare a report on the matter.

“We may make some compromise position here that involves something for people who don’t have the ability to pay,” Ferguson said.

“I think the general mood of the board is that $10 is not an onerous fee. We’re trying to be reasonable and trying at least to cover some of our costs, but there may be some compromise position here.”