Released on May 30, 2016
The Government of Saskatchewan introduced changes today that will strengthen The Adoption Act, 1998 to better serve Saskatchewan children and their families.“We know that the needs of children and their families are constantly evolving and we must ensure that our legislation, practices, and programs evolve along with them,” Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer said.
The proposed changes to the Act will:
- provide better guidelines around how a child’s voice may be heard in court;
- alter how adult adoptees and birth parents can access identifying information from the adoptee’s birth registration and allow the Minister to better enforce compliance should an individual’s contact preference be contravened;
- ensure requirements will now be the same for children being adopted by Saskatchewan residents no matter if the child’s country of origin is a signatory to The Hague Convention or not;
- increase the number of days for birth parents to revoke their consent to an adoption from 14 to 21, aligning Saskatchewan with most other jurisdictions in Canada; and
- in the event that adoptive parents pass away, allow the Minister to enter into assisted adoption agreements with subsequent legal guardians so benefits will follow the children, ensuring their needs continue to be met and any supports are not disrupted.
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For more information, contact:
Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-519-7835