Same-sex couples in Ontario no longer have to adopt their own children thanks to new legislation
A new law which will allow same-sex parents to have the same legal rights as heterosexual parents is being introduced in Ontario today.
The All Families are Equal Act updates a law that hasn’t been touched since 1978. The new act means parents who are not biologically related to their children will no longer have to go through the adoption process or get a judicial declaration of parentage.
Advocates of the bill hope that it will take effect at the start of next year and will save couples thousands of dollars in legal fees.
It will also put an end to parents not being able to get medical treatment for their children if they aren’t officially recognised.
“The best thing for a child is to have parents who can make important decisions about their care from the minute they are born, without any legal uncertainty,” said Attorney General Yasir Naqvi.
The law hopes to be passed by christmas so it can take effect in January 2017.
The Notarios Superior Court ruled 10 years ago that couples who use sperm donors and other reproductive technologies should enjoy same parental rights as those who conceive naturally.
The move to allow same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples is another in a long line of celebrated moves to equality in the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed plans to make ID cards gender neutral at Pride this year.
The country is also making their national anthem gender neutral.
