Ontario Strengthening Protections for Adopted Children
New legislation would enhance the private and international adoption system to protect the well-being of children
The Ontario government is introducing legislative changes to strengthen protections for children in private and international adoptions by enhancing oversight of the adoption process, creating new compliance and enforcement tools and establishing better safeguards to prevent bad actors from entering the system. Together, these measures will protect the well-being of children and help to ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality adoption services across the province.
“Adoption should focus on the best interests of children and provide them with the stability they need to succeed and thrive,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “The proposed changes would strengthen oversight of adoptions to better protect the best interests, safety and well‑being of children.”
Each year, there are approximately 130 private domestic and international adoptions in Ontario that are arranged by licensed agencies or individuals outside of a children’s aid society. If passed, the legislation would strengthen Ontario’s private and international adoption system so that the oversight of these adoptions remains effective and addresses rising concerns around illicit practices.
Proposed amendments to the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) and the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA) include:
- Strengthening ministry oversight of adoptions to provide safe, high-quality adoption services
- New compliance and enforcement tools for private adoption licensees that do not comply with Ontario’s adoption laws or the conditions of their licence
- Expanding grounds for refusing or revoking a licence for a private adoption agency to prevent bad actors from entering the system
- Measures to ensure international adoptions are facilitated only by licensed adoption professionals.
“Every child deserves to be safe, supported and protected during the adoption process,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “These proposed changes would strengthen oversight, improve accountability and help ensure Ontario’s private and international adoption system continues to put the well-being of children first.”
These new legislative measures build on the province’s previous action to strengthen protections for children in Ontario and are part of a broader legislative package that will be introduced in the coming days to keep streets and communities safe, strengthen enforcement of existing community safety measures and better protect victims and the vulnerable.
Quick Facts
- There are four types of adoption in Ontario: public, private domestic, international, and adoption of a stepchild or relative.
- Ontario regulates private and intercountry adoptions under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 and the Intercountry Adoption Act, 1998.
- Across the province, approximately 600 families are at different stages of Ontario’s private and intercountry adoption process.
