Released on January 3, 2017
On January 1, new regulations came into effect to make it easier for adult adoptees and birth parents to access birth registration information.The Government of Saskatchewan originally announced the changes in February 2016 to provide notice to individuals involved in the 37,000 adoptions that have occurred in Saskatchewan since 1922.
“Adoptees, their adoptive families and their birth families have been asking for us to improve access to birth registration information,” Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor said. “These changes will help support individuals involved in an adoption in learning more about their history, and even potentially strengthening their connections to their culture and birth family, if this is something they wish to move forward with.”
Birth registrations contain information such as the name of listed birth parents, the name of the child at birth and the location of the birth, along with name of the hospital.
The regulatory changes improve access and replace the requirement to obtain consent with the option for birth parents and adult adoptees to file a veto or a contact preference. A veto prevents the release of identifying information. A contact preference indicates how an individual wishes to be contacted.
All adult adoptees and birth parents are encouraged to call 1-800-667-7539 or visit www.saskatchewan.ca/adoptionrecords to learn more about the new regulatory changes that improve access to birth registration information. They can access forms to apply for birth registration information or file a contact preference or veto.
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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