TORONTO – The federal government of Canada has recently acknowledged the long-lasting impact of forced adoptions on individuals and families in Canada following World War II. However, it has refrained from issuing the public apology sought by advocates, including those personally affected by the practice.
A petition demanding a formal apology from the government has garnered over 600 signatures from Canadians nationwide and was presented in the House of Commons in May. This initiative was led by Christine Nayler, a mother who lost her child to forced adoption decades ago, and she also initiated a national advocacy campaign, "Canadians for a National Apology."
In a statement, Nayler's group described the forced adoptions as "state-sanctioned" actions that have resulted in a profound, lifelong impact on mothers and their children, characterizing it as "one of Canada’s largest human rights violations." The coalition's concerns echo the findings of a Senate committee report from 2018 addressing the issue of forced adoptions.
In response to the petition, Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu highlighted the government’s recognition of the "significant and lasting impact" of forced adoptions. However, she emphasized that adoption practices fall under provincial jurisdiction. Each province and territory has since established regulations aimed at preventing forced adoptions, as noted in the government’s response.
Minister Hajdu also reaffirmed Canada's commitment to several international conventions that safeguard the rights of women and children, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This convention stipulates that a child should not be separated from their parents against their will unless deemed necessary for the child’s best interests by authorities.
The Senate social affairs committee's report, titled "The Shame Is Ours," recommended a formal apology as one of its key suggestions. Additional recommendations included establishing support services for those affected and providing access to records and files related to forced adoptions.
Presenting the petition in May, Liberal MP Karina Gould stated that it is estimated that approximately 300,000 unwed mothers were coerced into giving up their children for adoption between the 1940s and 1970s. This widespread practice of forced adoption in Canada has drawn comparisons to similar actions in other countries, where formal apologies have been issued. Notably, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, and more recently, the United Kingdom, have acknowledged these injustices publicly.
On this occasion, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his government’s "deeply and profoundly sorry" sentiment for what he labeled a "stain" on the nation’s history, further emphasizing the collective responsibility of governments to confront such past wrongs.
The group "Canadians for a National Apology" criticized Ottawa's response, suggesting it places Canada "further behind every country that has confronted this history." They announced plans for a national day of action in September to continue advocating for accountability on this issue, asserting that this moment should be seen as a beginning rather than a conclusion.
With files from AP
