As
of January 2006, adoption records in Canada are conditionally open*
to natural parents and adoptees in three provinces (Alberta,
British Columbia and Newfoundland
& Labrador) and two territories (Nunavit and the Northwest
Territories). The Ontario government is considering
an amended bill. Open Records movements are active in all other
provinces including Manitoba and Nova Scotia.
"OPEN
RECORDS" does NOT mean open adoption, nor does it mean that records
are open to the public. It means, instead, that separated family members
may obtain each
other's identifying information. Identifying information regarding
people who have adopted is not released.
"Conditionally
open*" means that restrictive and human-rights-violating disclosure
veto procedures are in place prohibiting the release of identifying
information at the whim of the other party. We support all efforts
to eliminate veto provisions from existing and pending legislation.
Experience in Australia has shown many problems with disclosure vetoes,
including the suicide of people who find a disclosure filed against
them.
