Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Members are aware of my long outstanding concerns about our present adoption legislation. Recently a constituent came to me for assistance with contacting children whose whereabouts are unknown following an adoption. Although I believe strongly that there should be some way to initiate
contact, I am unable to help parents and children in this situation because of outdated, poorly thought out and culturally insensitive legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I think Members will agree that all children wherever they live have a right to know as much as possible about their background and culture. In some provinces there have been moves to accommodate some cultures. I am told that Quebec has recently given its assurance to China that children adopted from that country will be provided with full information about their cultural background. Children who have been adopted within Canada are not given any assurance of this basic right. Our laws do not take into account aboriginal traditions and values.
Family laws across Canada at the present time prevent a child who is adopted through Social Services, or his or her parents, from obtaining any information about each other in most circumstances until that child turns 18 years old. This is true even if a child, both parents and the adoptive parents all agree that some type of contact would be beneficial. I really do not see how government can feel that they have the right to assume this amount of control over peoples lives.
The long awaited Family Law Review report includes some recommendations on adoption. I do not agree with everything in this report. However, it does recommend that in the case of departmental adoptions, where children are older and have ties to their families or communities, the court should have the discretion not to sever all bonds and that access to parents or other family members should be considered. I agree strongly with this recommendation.