Another year has passed and NOTHING

The final session of the Legislature has now started and will close before Christmas, again without making any changes to The Adoption Act.  For the past 6 years we have been led to believe that changes i.e. opening closed records, was imminent.  Well so much for promises and political double-speak.

The Ministry is continuing to maintain that opening the closed records in Manitoba will take place, but they are "committed to ensuring that all interests are being examined as part of the legislative review".  If all interests are being examined why has there been no discussions with LINKS since January 2007?

Well, they have been reviewing this for several years now and still can't seem to understand that their delaying action is adversely affecting the lives of hundred of people in the adoption community in Manitoba. In November 2007 LINKS were advised that the government was "gathering information from other jurisdictions" to "see if any of the new developments may be suitable to Manitoba". In November 2008 we were advised that "our government takes the issue of adoption very seriously and is still carefully examining the matter of changes".  It is hard to understand what they are reviewing.  British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Newfoundland/Labrador have opened all adoption records, past and future.  British Columbia opened their past adoption records in 1996, Alberta in 2004 and Ontario is the most recent.  Anyone can review the adoption law of these provinces and they do not take 6 years to digest if you know anything about the post-adoption world.

It appears the government is not dedicated to improving the lives of thousands of Manitobans.  It is a delaying tactic by people not committed, or a delay by those with a conflict of interest, or maybe it is a make-work project that can be dragged out to ensure you have a job, or by incompetence.  Whatever the reason for the delay it has gone from an acceptable length to a totally unacceptable and disgraceful length of time.

Hopefully open records getting close

 We have been advised that the Post Adoption Registry has instituted a priority contact listing for individuals interested in adoption information should the Province of Manitoba open its adoption records in the near future.  Requests for adoption information are considered a priority by departmental staff, and should adoptions be opened, PAR staff will be in direct contact with these individuals to assist with obtaining their desired information.  Should individuals wish to be added to the contact list, they are invited to contact Ms. Marguerite Lapka-Woytowich, Post-Adoption Specialist at 204-945-4272.