Consultations on open adoption records coming up

Yarmouth County Museum to host session Nov. 28; Université Sainte-Anne to broadcast in French from Halifax campus to all its campuses Nov. 29

Community information sessions on adoption records will be held in November and December to ask Nova Scotians what they think about open adoption records.

Currently in Nova Scotia, a birth parent or an adult who was placed for adoption as a child can request the government search for the other party. If that person is found, they must consent to having their identifying information released to the other party.

“We want to give Nova Scotians a variety of opportunities to weigh in on this important topic,” said Community Services Minister Kelly Regan. “We appreciate the feedback we’ve already had through the online survey and we also encourage Nova Scotians to come to an in-person session to provide their thoughts on open adoption records.”

An online survey was launched on Nov. 13 to ask

Nova Scotians what they think about open adoption records. The deadline for the online survey is Jan. 3. The in-person consultations are another way to participate in the discussion.

The community information sessions will be held in New Minas, Bridgewater, Yarmouth,

Truro, Sydney, Eskasoni, Port Hawkesbury, Halifax, Millbrook and Dartmouth.

French-language sessions are being held for Université Sainte-Anne campuses in Halifax, Church Point, Tusket, St. Joseph-du-Moine and Petit-deGrat.

QUICK FACTS:

• Open adoption records mean that identifying information about one of the parties to an adoption, either an adult adopted person or a birth parent, can be released to the other without consent, unless the birth parent or adult adopted person has filed a disclosure veto.

• A disclosure veto allows a birth parent or adoptee to register in advance so that identifying information about them cannot be released. A disclosure veto expires upon the person’s death.

• Nova Scotians who do not wish to share publicly at an inperson consultation may reach out to facilitators at their session to arrange to privately share their feedback

The schedule for in-person community information sessions in the tri-counties includes:

• Yarmouth County Museum and Archives, 22 Collins St., Yarmouth, Thursday, Nov. 28, from 1 to 3 p.m.

• Université Sainte-Anne: Friday, Nov. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. There will be a broadcast in French taking place from the Halifax campus to all campuses, including, in this region: Church Point: 1695, Route 1, Church Point, Room GB318 and Tusket: 1 Slocomb Cres., Tusket.