Bill 183 - Adoption Records : Thunderbay IMC

Just a letter for your information: I have this on my web site:

Ontario Bill 183 - Open Adoption Records - Tell Your Story

Friday May 13th 2005

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Queens Park) voted Tuesday (May 3rd, 2005) to move Bill 183, an Act respecting the disclosure of information and records to adopted persons and birth parents for Second Reading. The motion was passed and Bill 183 was then sent to the Standing Committee on Social Policy for a detailed review and public consultation.

Friday May 13th, 2005, Queens Park announced that the Committee on Social Policy would be conducting public consultations regarding the opening of adoption records.

It is imperative that you register by Monday afternoon 5pm to speak in person to the committee about how important it is for the Bill to pass, including it's retroactivity or if you prefer not to speak in person, at least write a letter of support of the Bill. It can make the difference between a pass or a fail.

What Does "Retroactive" Mean?

Retro = backwards. Retro-Active means Bill 183 is active both backward and forward.

A retroactive Bill means that once that Bill becomes Law, it will apply to everyone who has been affected by adoption in the past and in the future.

If Bill 183 was not retroactive, it would only open records to people who become affected by adoption from today and on after today. Anyone affected by adoption before Bill 183 becomes a Law, would still not be able to obtain identifying information on their natural family. This is why it is important for this bill to pass into becoming a Law.

What Should I Say?

You do NOT have to be a professional speaker of any kind. I have watched the Committees on Television and they are very friendly and understanding to anyone who speaks. People who speak are normal, everyday people. Some have shaky voices, some are confident, some don't really know what to say but say it anyhow. The important thing is, just go in, and tell them exactly how you feel about people having the opportunity to obtain information about their own biological roots and history. Tell them about the many years of suffering and wondering. If you think you will cry. Then cry. They need to know the impact "not knowing" has on people. Sleepless nights? Haunted by holidays? Anniversaries, Birthdays, Movies, Songs? All of these things affect you in your daily lives. Filling out applications and forms can even trigger a memory. Let them know ALL OF IT. Let them know you are not looking for a new family, or to ruin the lives of anyone.. you just want a chance to learn about your own biological roots if you are an adoptee, or if you are a birth parent, you would like to know how they are doing.. what they are doing.. maybe meet if they want to... what ever your feelings are.

What Would You Do If You Were On The Committee?

For many years, people have fought long and hard to have a bill like Bill 183 passed. Especially Marilyn Churley, MPP for Toronto, Danforth, other activists and community groups including myself, who walked to the East Coast protesting sealed records in adoption and foster care.

If Bill 183's retroactive clauses are voted against then all those who have fought will not be able to obtain their own information. Imagine fighting for years for something so important as your own roots and heritage, only to lose it because not enough people took the few seconds required to let their voice of support for Bill 183 be heard.

Believe me, those who oppose this Bill or parts of it have been very vocal. You have read it in the papers or heard them on the radio talk shows. When people are against something, they tend to let their voice be heard. When we support something, we feel happy and excited, then we sit and watch it in hopes it will be true.

But think for a moment if you were a member of the Committe and you heard 30 people come in to say how they do not support the Bill or parts of it, then you only heard from five people who took the time to show up and show their support for Bill 183 and it's retroactivity. What would you have to do?

Now think how it would be if you heard 30 people speak against the Bill and it's retroactivity, and you heard 130 people speak and write in support of it. That is how important it is for you to be heard on this matter.

How Does A Committee Work?

In Queens Park, various committees are setup which look at Bills and discusses them, then debate and vote on each part of that Bill paragraph by paragraph (also known as clause by clause) to see if it should stay as it is written or if it should be changed to suit their liking.

The committee which has been assigned Bill 183 is called the Social Policy Committee. It is made up of That committee is made up of various members of the Ontario Legislative Assembly, each one of those members being from a particular political parrty such as liberals or conservatives and so on.

Members of the Social Policy Committee and how they voted on Bill 183. And by the look of it, we have pretty good support for the Bill by most members of the Committee. But if enough people who are against the Bill speak to the Committee or write to the Committee, it is possible that it might sway the vote to the negative. This is why it is important that you have your voice heard on Bill 183 no matter what! I will even write a sample letter below to assist you in writing your letter / email to them. A phone call (you are allowed to call collect if needed) is also an acceptable means of communicating your support for this important Bill to pass including it's retro-activity clauses.

Social Policy Committee Members Vote On Bill 183

NO Ted Chudleigh PC / Halton
Yes Mario Racco LIB / Thornhill
Yes Khalil Ramal LIB / London--Fanshawe
Yes Ted Arnott PC / Waterloo--Wellington
No Ted Chudleigh PC / Halton
Yes Kim Craitor LIB / Niagara Falls
Did Not Vote Peter Fonseca LIB / Mississauga East
Yes Jeff Leal LIB / Peterborough
Yes Rosario Marchese NDP / Trinity--Spadina
Yes Mario Racco LIB / Thornhill
Yes Khalil Ramal LIB / London--Fanshawe
Yes Kathleen Wynne LIB / Don Valley West

Who should speak/write?

It does not matter who speaks to Bill 183. Maybe you have been affected by adoption yourself? Maybe you know someone who has been affected and wants to know more about their past. Maybe you are a teacher, police officer, counsellor, psychiatrist or a member of the community who supports people knowing their roots, thier history, whre they have come from.

Maybe you have been affected by the Children's Aid Society and know how it feels to have your family separated. You can help people learn about their past and possibly meet their family members which the Government has blocked them from meeting if all parties so desire.

To assist with the passing of this bill, you MUST go and register to speak at Queens Park by Monday 5pm. You will be scheduled to speak either on Wednesday, or Thursday. Or if you wish to write your support to the Committee instead, you can do so by emailing, phoning or writing to the following:

Clerk: Anne Stokes
Mailing Address:
Room 1405, Whitney Block
Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1A2
anne_stokes@ontla.ola.org

Committee Office:
Room 1405, Whitney Block
Tel: (416) 325-3515
Fax: (416) 325-3505
TTY: (416) 325-3538
You can call Collect if required

Stay tuned to this page for further information. You can join our email discussion group at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/afterfostercare/join

if you are interested in staying updated on this issue.