On Tuesday, May 28, 2003, at 9:06:32 AM, Paul, Jeff: SEN wrote: > In the hearings on bill S-13, and in the background information that > the government released, the government stated that a person's family > is defined as anyone related by blood, marriage, or adoption. The > goverment has stated clearly that it will take a very broad view of > what a family is. I am extremely glad to hear this and am hopeful that it will actually work in this manner. I am adopted, which is another governmental fiasco, and I have been concerned that I would be restricted from researching one of my families. I love the family I am adopted by and have been researching them for a few years, but as I learn details of my birth family it is important that I can research them, as well. I will very shortly become a grandfather, and I have directly or indirectly created two generations beyond the person that the government "protected and provided for." The importance of knowing my heritage and the medical history of my birth family is fundamentally important to three generations of individuals and won't stop there. It would be a terrible disservice to millions of Canadians, who are members of the adoption triad, if they could not have access to information on both their adopted and birth families because of bill S-13. Now, if only the offensive clause 8 could be removed. :-) Respectfully, Glenn _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ I'm too old to be told I can't know my Mother's name –Dic Charge, CANADopt Founder