Overview of new policy - why we feel the changes will benefit people

Our first steps in the process of assessing adoption disclosure policy was to conduct a critical analysis of the existing AARA. In doing so, we clearly recognize that this piece of legislation was a long time in the making and has made a significant inroad into furthering the rights of the adoptee. It was also clear that there was a legal requirement to protect privacy rights of those affected by adoption prior to the AARA. However, what is also apparent is that the current policy does not go far enough to include the needs and/or rights of all parties of the adoption triangle and that it also has the potential to create some hardships in its implementation.


In our last blog entry, we introduced an overview of the changes we are proposing in a new policy. In keeping with our post-colonial perspective, in our revised policy we are attempting to ensure the rights to privacy remain intact in the future, while at the same time respecting societal demand for more open adoption practices.

We have taken the policy further in the direction of adoptee rights by including mandatory health information to provide the adoptee to ensure the adoptee has the same rights/access to medical care. We are advocating that the all adoptions are conducted in a way that ensures the collection of comprehensive non-identifying information that is consistent from agency to agency to eliminate any perceived discrimination. from inconsistent practices. Furthermore, we are advocating for the use of a detailed social history form to collect as much detail about an adoptees family history to assist the adoptee in the creation of their own identity that reaches beyond the provision of a "name".

Finally, in an effort to avoid a neo-liberal ( look after yourself) approach, we have taken some of the previous adoption legislation and policies, such as Ministry searches, contact notices, and pre-reunion counselling services that were previously in place and recommended their re-institution to ensure that while the new policy reflects a desire for more openness, it continues to offer members of the adoption triangle with valuable services and non-discriminatory practices.

In our next few blog entries we will discuss in more detail how these changes will be beneficial to individuals. D.