Adoption Information Fees Eliminated

The Department of Community Services has eliminated fees charged for adoption information in Nova Scotia, Minister Francene Cosman announced today.

"We have removed the barrier of fees to give all members of Nova Scotia's adoption community equal access to our services," said Ms. Cosman. "Effective today, we have rescinded the regulations requiring us to charge fees."

The minister's decision is based on a recommendation of her advisory committee on the Adoption Information Act. Ms. Cosman met with the committee last week and tabled its interim report in the House of Assembly today.

The Adoption Information Act, introduced in January 1997, sets up an active registry that allows the department to search for information on behalf of adult adopted persons and birth parents and to facilitate contact with their relatives.

The $250 fee, which was reduced for low-income earners, was introduced to cover the cost of the program. However, the Minister's Advisory Committee on the Adoption Information Act examined the issue and found the fee to be a barrier for many people who wanted to search for birth parents or children.

The advisory committee recommends no further changes to the act at this time. However, it suggests the department monitor legislation in other provinces to ensure Nova Scotia's legislation stays current.

The changes to regulations governing fees are effective today, May 19, 1999. The Department of Community Services will cover the program's operational costs.

The department will continue to provide all services that have been provided since implementation of the act --background histories, registration on the passive registry, searches, and facilitation of reunions. With the rescinding of fees, these services will be equally accessible to all members of the Nova Scotia adoption community.

Since the act came into effect, the department has had inquiries from 692 individuals. The department currently processes about 200 search requests in addition to 170 background histories and 175 passive registrations per year.

Although the number of requests is expected to increase, a system is in place giving high priority to requests with medical urgency, where the birth parent is over 65 years of age and where inquiries result in a match.