News Release

Minister favours violent offenders over child abuse victims
Sterling introduces amendments to protect identities of victims of child abuse – McGuinty Government stonewalls the amendments

(Queen’s Park, Toronto) – The McGuinty government will endanger victims of child abuse who are removed from their parents by the Children’s Aid Society and later adopted. Carleton-Mississippi Mills MPP Norm Sterling today demanded the government change its Bill and later in committee introduced the amendments to make that change but was stonewalled by the McGuinty Liberal majority.

Bill 12, which introduces the option of a disclosure veto for adoptions which take place before September 1 of this year, will unfortunately remove the option for Children’s Aid Societies to file a disclosure veto for victims of child abuse adopted after September 1, 2008.

“Your present Bill 12, which is in front of the standing committee, removes that protection, meaning a child who is raped by her birth father, rescued by the children’s aid, and adopted after September 1 of this year, will have no way to prevent her natural parents from finding out her adopted identity once she turns 19,” Mr. Sterling explained to Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur. “Why are you removing this important protection for victims of severe child abuse?”

The Minister showed no compassion, discounting Mr. Sterling’s concerns and responding that her government had considered this issue but determined that an individual’s right to know about their family was more important than the fears of victims of child abuse.

Mr. Sterling followed up his question by introducing amendments to the Bill during today’s meeting of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and made an impassioned cry to the Committee members to change the Bill. The Liberal members of the committee demonstrated as little compassion for the victims as the Minister did in the Legislature and the amendments were defeated by London-Fanshawe MPP Khalil Ramal, Guelph MPP Liz Sandals and Brampton West MPP Vic Dhillon.

“The McGuinty government is more concerned with creating a legal right for a violently abusive birth parent to find out the adoptive name of their biological child than with protecting the safety and peace of mind of that abuse victim,” said Mr. Sterling.

For more information, call Carleton-Mississippi Mills MPP
Norm Sterling at: (416) 314-7900

HANSARD TRANSCRIPT – APRIL 22, 2008
QUESTION PERIOD
Adoption disclosure

Mr. Norman W. Sterling: My question is for the Minister of Community and Social Services. Madam Minister, under your former adoption disclosure legislation, Bill 183, children aid societies could file a disclosure veto to protect the identity of victims of severe child abuse who are removed from their parents and then adopted. Your present Bill 12, which is in front of the standing committee, removes that protection, meaning a child who is raped by her birth father, rescued by the children’s aid, and adopted after September 1 of this year, will have no way to prevent her natural parents from finding out her adopted identity once she turns 19. Why are you removing this important protection for victims of severe child abuse?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: I appreciate the question coming from the member of the opposition party. It’s a good question. It’s a question that we asked ourselves in drafting this new legislation.
But our government, the McGuinty government, strongly believes that all Ontarians should be able to learn more about their own personal history. That is why the government has decided to introduce this legislation. The proposed legislation does not include a determination of abuse. We have discussed this issue with our stakeholders and their advice was that we should treat adults like adults and not like children. So the intent of the proposed legislation is to open adoption records for adults, not children.

Mr. Norman W. Sterling: May I quote the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies’ submission before the committee: “Children who survive rape as infants, attempted murder, torture, or are starved and exposed to other forms of neglect should be afforded the opportunity to rebuild their lives in loving, adoptive homes. Adoptees should not have to live in fear that the perpetrators of those acts of violence should have a legal entitlement,”—that’s what you are giving them—“to learn their names at age 19 and then track them down ... ” That’s what the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies say.
Why don’t you take these people’s advice, who have tremendous experience in this area, who we entrust many of our children to? Why don’t you have a heart and protect these children in their adulthood from these very abusive and violent people?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Again, the proposed legislation does not include determination of abuse process. We have consulted with our stakeholders and the advice that we’ve received is for open adoption. This is to modernize the legislation.
We’re not the leader in that area. Many provinces across Canada have this type of legislation. It’s open adoption—to open the adoption records—and that’s what we’re doing. People are allowed to know where they come from and that’s what this legislation is doing.