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“After completing this assessment, Cabinet decided that obtaining a criminal record check should be a necessary step,” Billington explained in a statement.

The decision was revealed in a request for proposals posted on Friday seeking a company to perform the checks using a web-based system. The government is anticipating that 600 checks will be required each year, though more will be needed in the first year to assess all existing appointees.

He said that approach will “ensure the application process is not a barrier to members of the public.”

Billington was not able to provide information on how much bringing such a company on board will cost, saying that information won’t be available until the contract is awarded.

The board chair of Northlands College Board of Directors was supportive of the move, saying he never had the opportunity to get to know Natomagan before he was appointed.

A criminal record check would have prevented him, and the government, from being caught of guard.

“When you apply for any job it’s the same,” said Victor Fern. “On a board you deal with a lot of different issues, so I think that’s a proper way of doing it.

“I don’t have any objection to it.”

He said he has little concern that the checks will reveal anything concerning about those now sitting on the Northlands College board.

“We have a really good board,” he said. “A really good group of people… and I don’t think we should come across anything like that.”

Fern suggested the checks will only help ensure that the proper people are chosen.

According to the request for proposals, the successful company will be tasked with obtaining consent from board members and prospective board members.

It will then obtain information from the Canadian Police Information Centre and submit the results to the Agency Board and Commission (ABC) Coordinator’s Office of Executive Council.

The government is seeking the service “immediately” once it finds a provider.

awhite-crummey@postmedia.com