Eliminate the $50 Fee for Accessing Adoption Records in British Columbia
The Honourable Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, The Honourable Jodie Wickens, Minister of Children and Family Development, and The Honourable Diana Gibson Minister of Citizens’ Services
We call on the Government of British Columbia to immediately eliminate the $50 fee for adoptees and birth parents seeking access to their adoption records.
In 1996, British Columbia led the nation by becoming the first province to unseal adoption records—a groundbreaking move that affirmed every person’s right to know their origins. Today, that legacy is at risk.
Although provinces such as Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and others now offer free access to adoption records, BC still charges a $50 fee. This imposes a financial barrier to the records that the province previously fought to make accessible.
This fee is more than just a cost; it’s a barrier to understanding identity. For adoptees and birth parents, accessing copies of original birth records and adoption documents isn't merely administrative paperwork. It's a crucial step to understanding personal history, family ties, and essential medical information. No one should have to pay to know who they are.
The impact is significant and unjust. According to BC Vital Statistics Agency data, between 1996 and 2020, there were 18,049 releases of adoption records. This means British Columbians have been forced to pay an estimated $900,000 to access their own histories.
BC is falling behind. As other provinces remove financial barriers to adoption records, BC remains an outlier. Charging $50 for a service that should be freely available contradicts the spirit of the province’s own pioneering legislation and denies many the right to their identity.
We call on the BC government to:
Immediately eliminate the $50 fee for accessing adoption records
Amend Section 67(b) of the Adoption Act and Section 36(4) of the Vital Statistics Act to ensure free access
Restore BC’s leadership in adoptee rights and transparency
No one should have to pay to know who they are.
Sponsored by
To:
The Honourable Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, The Honourable Jodie Wickens, Minister of Children and Family Development, and The Honourable Diana Gibson Minister of Citizens’ Services
From:
[Your Name]
The Honourable Josie Osborne
Minister of Health
PO Box 9050 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC, V8W 9E2
The Honourable Jodie Wickens
Minister of Child and Family Development
PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
The Honourable Diana Gibson
Minister of Citizens’ Services
PO Box 9068 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Dear Minister Osborne, Minister Wickens, and Minister Diana Gibson,
We call on the Government of British Columbia to immediately eliminate the $50 fee for adoptees and birth parents seeking access to their adoption records.
In 1996, British Columbia led the nation by becoming the first province to unseal adoption records, establishing the right for individuals to learn about their origins. Today, that important legacy faces threats.
While provinces like Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and more now provide free access to adoption records, BC continues to charge a $50 fee. This creates a financial barrier to the very records the province once fought to make accessible.
This fee represents more than just a cost; it acts as a barrier to discovering identity. For adoptees and birth parents, obtaining copies of original birth registration and adoption records is not merely paperwork; it is a crucial step in understanding personal history, family ties, and essential medical information. No one should have to pay to learn who they are.
The impact is significant and unjust. According to BC Vital Statistics Agency data, between 1996 and 2020, there were 18,049 releases of adoption records. This means British Columbians have been forced to pay an estimated $900,000 to access their personal histories, creating an unjust and unnecessary financial burden.
BC is falling behind. As other provinces remove financial barriers to adoption records, BC remains an outlier. Charging $50 for a service that should be freely available contradicts the spirit of the province’s own pioneering legislation and denies many the right to their identity.
We urge the BC government to promptly remove the $50 fee for accessing adoption records, amend Section 67(b) of the Adoption Act and Section 36(4) of the Vital Statistics Act to guarantee free access, and reinstate BC’s leadership in adoptee rights and transparency.
No one should have to pay to know who they are.
Sincerely,
Free the Adoptee and the undersigned
cc:
Reann Gasper, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Abbotsford-Mission, Deputy Caucus Whip and Critic for Child and Family Development
Rob Botterell, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Saanich North and the Islands