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COAR News Release, Feb. 17, 2002
OPEN
RECORDS IN ONTARIO - CALL FOR SUPPORT OF BILL 77
The Coalition for Open Adoption Records
(COAR, http://www.geocities.com/coarontario) is launching a province-wide
campaignto urgethe Ontario government to bring Bill 77 to third reading.
We must demonstrate that the Ontario adoption community supports Bill
77. Together,we must demand that the government take immediate action.
Every single individual is important. Only by working together can
we make a difference!
Last fall, Bill 77 successfully passed
second reading in the Ontario legislature and was approved unanimously
by the Standing Committee on General Government where it had been
sent for review. This spring the bill will face its greatest challenge.
Before it can become law, it must pass third reading.
When passed, Bill 77 will allow:
* adult adoptees to obtain their
original birth certificates
* first parents to obtain the original and amended birth certificates
oftheir adult children
* adult adoptees and their first parents to file a contact veto
* adult adoptees and their first parents to seek counselling.
What You Can Do
* Immediately write, visit, or e-mail
your MPP. Make sure he/she knows that you support Bill 77 and that
you expect him/her to work with colleagues to bring it to third
reading. Forward copies of your message to the Premierand Minister
of Community and Social Services.
* Take part in the Bill 77 letter writing campaign later in the
spring.COAR will post information on-line when the date approaches.
For more information, please contact Sandra Williston at s.willis@sympatico.ca.
* Proudly wear a plaid ribbon to support open adoption records.
To obtain a ribbon, please contact Leslie Wagner at dbro2@sprint.ca.
* Attend a candlelight vigil supporting open adoption records. The
vigil will take place in the spring. For more information on the
Vigil, pleasecontact Leslie Wagner at dbro2@sprint.ca.
* Forward the name of any adoptee whose health has been compromised
by closed records to Sandi Jowett at jowett66@sympatico.ca.If you
are a first parent and wish to support Bill 77 publicly, please
contact Terry Gardiner at terrygardn@globalserve.net. We are searching
for birth parents who will state publicly that they were never promised
confidentiality and allow their names to be published. You do not
need to live in Ontario to take part in the campaign.
To find out how you can become more
involved with the campaign or if you know of an organization that
will support Bill 77, please contact SandraWilliston at s.willis@sympatico.ca.
Together we can make a difference.
COAR Co-ordinating CommitteeWendy Rowney,
Karen Lynn, Dr. Michael Grand
Source: Adoption Council of Canada,
www.adoption.ca
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