Court Orders Change to Native Adoption Policy

Court Orders Change to Native Adoption Policy

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 at 15:45

Provincial government officials are meeting today with representatives of 17 First Nations’ child welfare agencies in the wake of a significant court ruling in the province.

Last month, a Queen’s Bench justice ruled that it was unconstitutional for the government to abide by the wishes of bands and not allow the adoption of First Nations children into non-Aboriginal families.

The judge noted that too many Aboriginal children were being bounced between foster homes and were not being given the opportunity to grow up in a stable environment.

A provincial government spokesman says the long-standing policy is no longer in place as a result of the ruling.

The province will reportedly have more to say about its response to the ruling later this week.

First Nations officials have not been immediately available for comment.