Welcome to COAR's 2007 Ontario Election Poll

Welcome to COAR's 2007 Ontario Election Poll. The question sent to candidates was:
Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults? Yes / No / I'm not sure

Emails have been sent to as many of the candidates running for election as possible. Each response will be posted as it comes in and posts will be labeled with the riding name. To find out what candidates in your particular riding think just click on your riding in the list of labels on the right.

If you don't know what your riding is, see Elections Ontario's web site which will also let you know where to vote.

We hope this blog helps you on election day.

Dr. Michael Grand, Wendy Rowney, and Karen Lynn
Coordinating committee of COAR Ontario

Dan McCreary, Progressive Conservative Party, Brant

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

I am not sure that I could give a simple yes or no to your question as there are probably various circumstances on a case-by-case basis. However, I would be more than willing to meet with your organization to discuss your concerns after the election.

Will Murray, New Democratic Party, Ottawa Centre

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

As you may know, it was NDP MPP, Marilyn Churley, a birth mother who reunited with her son in 1996, introduced her adoption disclosure reform bill, No. 14, in December 2003. It's modelled on her previous bills on opening sealed records.

The bill overhauls adoption disclosure laws to help both adoptees and birth parents gain access to more information. The changes also include protections to respect the rights of parents who don't want to be contacted by children they gave up for adoption.

I appreciate Ms. Churley's incredible efforts on this issue and look forward to working with her and organizations like yours, on the rights of adopted children.

Rob Alder, Progressive Conservative Party, London North Centre

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

At this time, I don’t feel I have enough information about this subject to answer the question definitively and therefore would have to say “I’m not sure”.

Please feel free to keep us informed of your concerns. The PC party and I will constantly seek ways to make government work better for the people it serves.

Elaine Kennedy, Green Party, Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

No.
I believe that the birth mother has the right to remain anonymous if she chooses. I understand the need for further health information these days, but that should be found out through a third party, allowing the anonymity to be preserved.

Bob Senechal, Progressive Conservative Party, Guelph

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

Thank you for your email and for the opportunity to complete your survey. I have thought about your survey question for several days now and have ultimately decided that, at this point, I must answer "not sure". I can see both sides of the issue, but I have concluded that I need to gather more information and consult with colleagues before I can take a definitive stance on whether adopted and non-adopted adults should have the same access to family records.

As you are probably aware, this issue is not directly addressed in the PC Party Plan. I therefore suggest that you email John Tory directly on this matter. You can do so through the Ontario PC Party website at:

http://www.ontariopc.com/email_john.asp?SectionID=7.

June Davies, Green Party, Durham

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

I'm not sure.

Comments:
Most importantly for me is the health background information necessary for anticipating potential health risks to which the adopted adult may be predisposed. I am not aware of the initial confidentiality agreement to which the birth parent(s) agreed. I am assuming that confidentiality can still be maintained to the degree necessary while pertinent health information is accessible.

I am interested in the other arguments for and against this issue.

Ted Chudleigh, Progressive Conservative Party, Halton

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

My answer is NO. My concerns are that abuse issues and well as safety issues affect about 5% of adoptees and therefore they need special protection.

Eric DenOuden, Progressive Conservative Party, Prince Edward-Hastings

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

We are unable to respond to this e-mail at this time.

Leanna Pendergast, Liberal Party, Kitchener-Conestoga

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

The Liberal Party is committed to families. We believe that everyone should
have a fair opportunity to create a family and adoption is one option for
Ontarians. If elected, we will create an expert panel to examine all of the
complex issues associated with adoption. Once we have the information from
this panel we will develop a position and a plan to address these issues for
Ontario's families.

Jeff Leal, Liberal Party, Peterborough

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

Yes, an adopted adult should have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults.

Marija Minic, Green Party, York Centre

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

Yes, absolutely!

John Ford, Green Party, Ottawa South

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

I was adopted, so this issue is quite personal.

Information should be available only when both sides indicate they are willing to share information.

The element of privacy which existed by agreement, directly or by implication, should be preserved, and should not retroactively be revoked.

While there may be implication on issues such as an unavailable health history, I am willing to live with that.

Toby Barrett, Progressive Conservative Party, Haldimand-Norfolk

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

The following release we put out in late 2005, sums up Mr. Barrett's stance on adoption disclosure.

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For Immediate Release
Nov. 04, 2005

Adoption Disclosure Invades Privacy: Barrett
Queen’s Park – Natural mothers who were promised their privacy in adoption cases will now have to plead with a tribunal to have that privacy protected according to MPP Toby Barrett.

PC MPP’s joined Barrett this week as he voted a second time against Bill 183 – the Adoption Information Disclosure Act - in an effort to protect the privacy of natural mothers.

“Individuals who thought they were protected are now going to have their privacy violated” Barrett stated. “Other provinces in this country offer the right for birth parents to veto the disclosure of their identities. Why should Ontarians not have that right?”

The Adoption Information Disclosure Act, which passed with Liberal and NDP support, requires identification and personal information of birth parents, adoptive parents and adopted children to be accessible to all parties involved. Although other provinces have expanded their disclosure laws, Ontario is the only province to have the law apply retroactively without the individual’s option to veto this disclosure. According to the Act, Ontario adoptees or birth parents wishing to avoid disclosure will have to appear before a tribunal and argue that revealing the contents of their file would cause them physical harm or mental anguish.

Barrett supports greater disclosure of adoption information but believes the rights of the minority must be protected. Privacy commissioners from every province and the Federal Government hold the same position.

Bill 183 neglects to account for adoption cases in which full disclosure can be damaging, where a reunion is traumatic and unwanted.

“Adoption cases that have developed out of regrettable circumstances such as rape or child abuse, can be very delicate matters in which privacy should be respected and adhered to,” said Barrett. “It is truly unfortunate that the Liberal government does not see it that way.”

Gustavo Valdez, Family Coalition Party, Davenport

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

Yes.

Tim Van Bodegom, Green Party, Sarnia-Lambton

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

I'm not sure.

Tom Teahen, Liberal Party, Beaches-East York

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

It was the McGuinty government that passed the Adoption Information Disclosure Act to make it easier for adult adoptees to get information about their own identity, family history, personal and medical histories.

There was a recent constitutional challenge which struck down the legislation. The government is now reviewing the court's decision in this case.

Until that review is completed, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

Teresa Ceolin, Family Coalition Party, Etobicoke North

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

I know that at one point or another in an adopted child's life he/she will want to find out about their biological parents. However, it is not always known what is the best time to have this information disclosed. I will answer "I'm not sure" because it depends on at what age we describe someone as an adult. In short, I think that a 17 -18 year old (let's say male) may be too young or too emotional and may need a few more yearws of development to hear all the details of his biological parents. And so I believe that, if for some reasons adoptive parents have not disclosed the information about the biological parents to a child, it should remain undisclosed until the child (although legally an adult) is at least 21 years old.

Deb Matthews, Liberal Party, London North Centre

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

As you may know, I voted in favour of our government’s Bill on this issue and I support the legislation as written.

Lloyd Helferty, Green Party, Thornhill

Should an adopted adult have the same rights to identifying information about his or her origins as all non-adopted adults?

I'm not sure

Comments: What are the specific rights that have been given to non-adopted adults with regard to identifying information about his or her origins?