From 'Eh' to 'Z' - 51 Reasons (or less) why Canadian Screening is Different
Webinar Recording | 1 CPD Hour | Original Broadcast on October 23, 2025.
Thank you sponsor:
Description:
American corporate culture and head offices impact background screening policies in Canada.
Canadian and U.S. background screening may seem similar -- but the differences are critical. In this session, we'll explore key distinctions, and why 'lifting and shifting' policies like provincial vs. federal criminal record checks, SIN vs. SSN, and other US practices just don't make sense north of the border. We'll also cover U.S.-specific practices like adverse action and drug screening, and contrast them with Canadian norms. Attendees will learn how to tailor screening programs to cross-border legal and cultural realities, without exposing yourselves to risk.
Learning Objectives:
Description:
American corporate culture and head offices impact background screening policies in Canada.
Canadian and U.S. background screening may seem similar -- but the differences are critical. In this session, we'll explore key distinctions, and why 'lifting and shifting' policies like provincial vs. federal criminal record checks, SIN vs. SSN, and other US practices just don't make sense north of the border. We'll also cover U.S.-specific practices like adverse action and drug screening, and contrast them with Canadian norms. Attendees will learn how to tailor screening programs to cross-border legal and cultural realities, without exposing yourselves to risk.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the key legal, procedural, and cultural differences between Canadian and U.S. background screening practices.
- Identify why U.S. screening policies -- such as those involving Social Security Numbers, federal criminal checks, and drug testing -- may not be compliant or effective in the Canadian context.
- Learn how to adapt or design background screening programs that align with Canadian laws, provincial/federal distinctions, and cultural expectations.
- Recognize the risks of directly "lifting and shifting" U.S. screening processes to Canadian operations and how to avoid them.
- Gain practical strategies to meet cross-border compliance while supporting organizational hiring goals.
Speaker:
Iain Murray - Vice President of Business Development, Triton
- This session is designed for HR professionals, recruiters, compliance officers, and talent acquisition leaders responsible for hiring in Canadian operations, especially those working for organizations with U.S. parent companies or cross-border recruitment needs. It will benefit anyone seeking to align screening practices with Canadian laws, reduce compliance risks, and improve hiring efficiency.
Meet your presenter(s)
Iain Murray
Over the last 20 years, Iain has turned ideas for background screening into products used by Fortune 100 companies. Along the way, he's held leadership roles in operations, vendor management, product, and business development. Currently, Iain serves as Vice President, Business Development at Triton, overseeing growth and business development initiatives for Canada's most trusted provider of background checks. Iain is also a frequent speaker on background screening within the HR Community and various non-profits and advises many of Canada's largest organizations on policy and best practices. He also supports the background screening industry as a whole, as Chair of PBSA's Canada Council. Before his involvement in the screening industry, Iain spent time with the RCMP's Commercial Crime Section and received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Simon Fraser University.
Course Curriculum
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Webinar Recording
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PowerPoint Slides
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Course Survey
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About this course
- 3 lessons
- 1 hour of video content