Federal government acknowledges lasting impact of forced adoptions but refuses apology

The federal government acknowledged this week that forced adoptions had a lasting impact on people and families in Canada after the Second World War, but stopped short of offering the public apology sought by advocates and those affected by the practice.

The response came after a petition signed by more than 600 people was tabled in the House of Commons in May. The petition was created by Christine Nayler, a mother whose child was taken away decades ago, who also launched a national advocacy campaign called Canadians for a National Apology. The group has called forced adoptions "state-sanctioned" human rights violations affecting an estimated 300,000 unwed mothers who were coerced into surrendering their children between the 1940s and 1970s.

Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu tabled the government's formal response on Wednesday, saying adoption is primarily the responsibility of provinces, each of which has now implemented protections to eliminate forced adoptions. The response stated: "The government of Canada remains committed to upholding the principles enshrined in these conventions through our ongoing efforts to support women and children in Canada."

A formal apology was among the key recommendations from a 2018 Senate social affairs committee report titled "The Shame Is Ours." The report also recommended providing support services to those affected and ensuring access to records and files related to the forced adoptions.

Several other countries have already apologized for the practice. Australia, Ireland, Scotland, and the United Kingdom have all issued formal apologies in recent years. The UK's then-prime minister Keir Starmer apologized earlier this month, calling the practice a "stain" on the country's history.

Canadians for a National Apology said Ottawa's response puts Canada "further behind every country that has confronted this history" and announced plans to gather in September for a national day of action on the issue. "This moment is not the end—it is the beginning," the group stated.