For Immediate Release
April 23, 2008

MCGUINTY LIBERAL ADOPTION BILL GIVES DISCLOSURE RIGHTS TO CHILD ABUSERS: PC MPPs
Bill 12 takes power away from adopted child abuse victims gives it to the abusers

(Queen’s Park) – Ontario Progressive Conservative MPPs Norm Sterling (Carleton-Mississippi Mills), Christine Elliott (Whitby-Oshawa) and Sylvia Jones (Dufferin-Caledon) today criticized the McGuinty Liberals for taking rights away from the victims of child abuse with Bill 12, the Access to Adoption Records Act.

“The McGuinty Liberals should be interested the well-being of Ontario’s most vulnerable children. Yet, Bill 12 takes the power away from the victims of child abuse and puts it in the hands of their abusers,” said Sterling. “It seems like this government is more interested in the rights of the abuser than the rights of the victim.”

Under the proposed legislation victims of child abuse put up for adoption by the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) will have their rights significantly reduced. Bill 12 allow the abusive birth parents new rights to access information to these children once they turn 19 years old. Yesterday in committee hearings Mr. Sterling tabled an amendment to modify this aspect of the legislation, which was supported by the NDP, yet the Liberal members voted against it.

Jones added: “The Amendments put forth by the PC Party were to ensure that children who are abused, removed from the home and subsequently adopted could be automatically protected from having their personal information disclosed to the abuser without their consent.”

“The Victims’ Bill of Rights says that, ‘Victims should be treated with courtesy, compassion and respect for their personal dignity and privacy by justice system officials’,” said Elliott. “Why won’t the Ministers responsible afford the same right to adopted victims of child abuse?”

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