Amended Adoption Legislation Now In Effect

Amendments to the Newfoundland and Labrador Adoption Act have been implemented.

Under the new amendments, there will be a recognization of the rights and needs of Indigenous children in the adoption process.

There will be an expansion to the factors considered when determining the best interests of the child for the purposes of adoption to include the importance of preserving an Indigenous child’s cultural identity and the importance of sibling relationships.

The adoption legislation will also allow:

• Clarify when and under what conditions court ordered contact continues after an adoption is finalized through new openness order provisions;

• Address a legislative gap for adoption of youth leaving care between their 18th and 19th birthdays; and

• Clarify confidentiality provisions to ensure appropriate transparency while protecting the confidential information of those involved in adoption processes.