Families ask gov't to help with international adoptions

The dreams of hundreds of would-be parents were shattered when an adoption agency in Ontario filed for bankruptcy. Now, they are demanding that the provincial government step in.

CTV News Channel: Ellen Brenneman, prospective parent on the bankruptcy

Brenneman and her husband did extensive research into adoption agencies and were 'blown away' by Imagine Adoption. The Brennemans invested $15,000 into Imagine and were close to being matched with a child.

CTV Toronto: Adoption clients hold meeting with province

People seeking to adopt through a now-bankrupt international adoptions agency huddled with provincial officials to see what could be done.

CTV News Channel: Christine Starr, families of Imagine Adoption, part one

Families affected by the agency's bankruptcy say they are holding the Ministry of Children and Youth Services accountable. Families are asking the ministry to be committed to complete the adoption process for all families and to be willing to work with the agency in until the organization can be restructured.

CTV News Channel: Ellen Brenneman, Imagine client

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ctvtoronto.ca

Date: Friday Jul. 24, 2009 6:56 PM ET

Families who were caught in the collapse of an Ontario adoption agency are hoping the government will help them untangle red tape so their international adoptions can proceed.

Six representatives of the families met behind closed doors with officials of the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services Friday.

"As regulators of international adoption agencies in the province of Ontario, we hold the ministry accountable in this situation," Christine Starr told a news conference after the meeting.

Starr was speaking about the collapse earlier this month of Kids Link International Adoption Agency, which operated the Imagine adoption agency. It had an office Cambridge until it declared bankruptcy on July 13.

The agency specialized in adoptions from Africa, primarily Ethiopia. However, it has also arranged the adoption of children from Ghana and from Ecuador in South America.

"We all chose Imagine Adoption because we trusted that an Ontario government licence represented thorough and reliable regulation," Starr said.

However, the affected clients recognize this is an unprecedented situation, she said.

"Therefore, we're asking the ministry to look outside its normal procedures, and maybe even responsibilities, to work in partnership with us to find a viable solution for all families affected by this regulatory failure," Starr said.

The 400 families want the ministry to work with the trustee in bankruptcy to develop a plan to allow the adoption processes to be completed.

The ministry would hold the agency's licence and act as an interim operational trustee until the agency can be restructured.

Alternatively, they wanted to know if the ministry would support a plan put forward by the families to take the agency out of bankruptcy, Starr said.

"We did not receive any answers or assurances from the ministry with respects to these questions today," she said. "However, we feel confident that the ministry has heard our concerns."

A meeting will be held with Children and Youth Services Minister Deb Mathews on Tuesday.

Starr said that one in every six Ethiopian children will die before the age of five.

"Currently in Ethiopia, there are more than five million orphans at risk ... when you think of the magnitude of the problem in these terms," one might think that finding homes for 300 of them is a drop in the bucket, she said.

"But we have to keep in mind that each one of those 'drops' is a precious child that has every right to a full and fulfilling life. and there are families here in Canada who long for nothing more than to care, nurture and love these children for the rest of their lives," Starr said, her voice breaking.

Comments are now closed for this story

Pittsky
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These things happen. The suck, but they happen. Life is unfair. We don't need anymore regulatary laws!

The government cannot save you from everything.

Please, no more red tape. Canada already has too much.

Jeff, Ottawa
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Sorry to hear this happening to them, but please get in line with the others in Ontario suffering from companies going bankrupt.

Jim in Ottawa
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Pittsky,

I agree.

Matt
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Good luck Starr, every industry has a regulatory body of some sort whether it be govenment or self-appointed. These regulatory bodies try their best to promte good buiness throughout their industry but can't be held accountable everytime a poorly run compnay goes belly up. The people that lost money in this situation made a poor investment, it's not that I don't feel bad for them because I do, but that's just how the cookie crumbles in this situation and they're not going to get any public money by pointing fingers and whining like little children.

CAB
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I guess I find it sad that these parents are spending so much time, and expect so much to be done with international adoptions, when there are several children in Canada, of a number of ages, who are also desperately in need of adoption. As a taxpayer, I hope the government of Ontario does not give in to these people and waste my tax dollars on adopting children from abroad when so many need homes here in Canada.

And by the way, just because any agency is licensed in Ontario, this only means that while operating, they have been following the laws of Ontario. This does not guarantee the Ontario taxpayer will be responsible for them to bring a child in from another country. Their responsibility is to the numerous wards already in the care of the Ontario government and taxpayer.

These families really need to look at the bigger picture and not just their own individual needs. It is a sad sad day when so many children in Ontario are not the priority.

Hamilton boomer
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Pittsky: You do not seem to have any empathy for others. This is an unfortunate situation for all concerned. Every country needs to have laws and regulations to maintain law and order. Every country is judged by how they treat the less fortunate. I hope these families and their prospective adoptive children eventually have resolution.

Sam C
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Pittsky... are you aware that these families have paid a considerable sum of money to this agency?

From a previous story:

"Robyn Bertucci ... said she has spent more than $15,000 since signing up with Imagine agency last November. ... The entire adoption process costs about $25,000."

If you had shelled-out 15-grand for something -- let's say, for a car -- only to have the business go bankrupt before you took delivery, would you be still be saying "We don't need anymore regulatary laws!"

Mike
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Pittsky no one is asking for red tape or more regulations. These families are asking for the government, who gave this agency their licence, to act as any good business should and warrenty their agreements.

It's the gov. job to make sure these agencies can sustain themselves before they are given permission to operate so why not make them correct this. It's not asking a lot of the McGuinty and his team to do their jobs.

Although I don't agree with bailing them out I think the parents that were already in the process of adoption with them should be taken care of.

samherst
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Amazing! These people do not do due diligence, and when they get burnt they want to blame the government.
The government cannot be everything to everybody. Do these people think that just because a place is licensed it cannot go bankrupt? Most businesses in this country that have gone bankrupt were licensed.

Marcia
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When will you stop and listen to us! It takes just as long to adopt a child from Canada!!! And just as much money! And we have the choice to adopt where we want. I was told I would NOT get a chid under 12 months if i went through CAS. I wanted a baby, sorry but that is my CHOICE!!! There are not alot of children to adopt in Canada! And if we did, the chance of the parents after giving birth to a fetal alchol sydrome baby can take them back. So stop!

And we pay taxes too!

It is so very sad that people can actually be so cruel when all of these families are grieving. I am one of them.

Caleb
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this is an injustice
these people are doing something good for the world
we should help them

Raquel from Toronto
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How about holding the company accountable instead of the ministry. The ministry can't be everywhere at once!

There are certain items in each legislation that does not allow the ministry to do certain things.

IE. Blame the police that someone gets killed! The police didn't regulate that person enough!

It's time people take responsibility for their own actions and stop passing the buck.

Katie
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I am flabbergasted by the cynicism of the first comments. This bankruptcy involves the destiny of human lives, and if you think its easier to adopt in-country, don't you think we would do so? There is an opportunity here for something to be completed and to be made right, for children to have the chance to come to live in homes that are waiting to care for them. I really don't know what the arguement is here.

KS
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please become educated before making comments. Children are at stake here...it's not about the money. The parents don't really care about getting any of their money back. They are not "buying babies". There is no child-trafficking. There are far more orphaned children abroad than here in Canada.

Do you also criticize people for donating money to famine relief in Africa instead of giving that money to the local foodbank? And finally, no one questions the choices people make to conceive a child naturally, regardless of how it is done. Do not question people's choices to become parents through adoption.

jt
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This is getting out of hand people love pointing the finger at everyone.

katerei
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International adoption is the only viable alternative for some families, in particular for prospective parents nearing or over 40 and even more so for single parents. It is a system which has co-existed well with domestic adoption.

It is time to hear from people with something positive to say.

This is not an ordinary bankruptcy. These parents are looking for ways to organize and raise funding to continue a great program.(which incidentally will save and/or create jobs here and in Ethiopia). They are looking for the support of the Ministry to work together to save the program not to place blame.

Anne
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Pittsky – By Ontario law, those adopting privately MUST use a government-licensed agency. At this point there is no agency that can help these adoptions to be completed. At the very minimum, the legislation already in effect should provide allowances for adoptions to be completed in situations such as these.

Jeff, Jim and Matt – This is not all about money. This is about kids. Ask any parent in this situation and their concern will be for those children they were about to adopt. Getting public money is not the driving force of the Families of Imagine Adoption; it’s getting the children (the real victims in this situation) into loving homes by finding a solution to the problem of no longer having an agency, as required by law.

CAB – Are children in Ontario/Canada more valuable and more deserving than children in other places? There are children needing homes in Canada and it’s a tragedy that it is so difficult to place them in permanent families. ALL children deserve a safe, secure home and a loving family. Canadian taxpayers spend many dollars supporting the foster and adoption systems in this country. Many parents who choose to adopt internationally have carefully investigated or attempted to adopt in Canada. Some are older and do not have years to wait before building their family. Others cannot repeat the painful experience of adopting a child, welcoming them into their family, only to have the birth mother reclaim the child. Those who already have children often feel this situation would be unfair to the young child(ren) they already have. There are millions of children without parents in many countries around the world and it is a very real possibility that many will not live if they are not adopted. If you were aware of the sacrifices many of these families have made, you would understand that they are looking out for these children, not themselves.

Elizabeth, Ontario
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I do have a great deal of empathy for this unfortunate situation and the parties involved who have, in good faith, put their trust in a private agency that, although may be licensed by government, may not be a "government" agency. Most businesses are licensed, in the Province of Ontario, however that should not make government responsible for the day-to-day operations of private business. As unfortunate as this situation appears I do not believe that resolving it is our provincial government's responsibility.

Kendra
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I have chosen to adopt internationally as well. Personally as a single applicant it is very difficult for me to adopt within Canada and I feel that a child from Ethiopia could be given many more oppertunities here than in an orphange there. It is not about the money for me, I would like to be a mother and have no problem paying for the legal fees to do that. As well the families dont get paid for adoptions. I think the people who speak so negatively about adoptions have not taken the time to consider it themselves - domestically or internationally.

lucas
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NO MORE REGULATORY LAWS? are u kidding me! u just want random people handling these very sensitive adaoption cases your sick !!!!!! maybe we shouldnt regulate health care eaither than i could buy a kidney for my self since i need a transplant ! Laws like that or only here to protect the people of the nation not to to be " big brotheer at all "

Jon
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We DO NOT want our the government to bail us out and give us our money back! We are asking for their help to let us continue our adoptions and bring our children home!!!

Rebecca
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I agree that the ministry should come up with a plan to complete all adoptions that were disrupted by the bankruptcy of this agency. This situation could give international adoptions a bad reputation if not resolved. If our healthcare system pays for abortions, then why not help these parents fufill their dream of actually having a child?

I believe these parents have a right to choose where they wish to adopt from.

There is no reason why a child in a different country should have less of a chance of being adopted than one in Canada.

The foster/waiting children in Canada live in one of the most affluent countries in the world. They are fed, medically cared for, and able to go to school.
By comparison, Ethiopia has millions of orphans who may never get this sort of chance in life if it wasn't for these parents.

Don
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No Bailout...if that is what some are hoping. Nor should the government take on the responsibility of people's contract expectations being met. But if there is fraud by the adoption agency...Freeze their assets and send them to jail. Otherwise, buyer beware. I would rather see the children in Ethiopia fed than brought to Canada.

island girl
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The women in the picture seem somewhat too old to be adopting young children don't you think? Not to be judgemental but should not these women be prevented from adopting due to their age alone? The children needs should come first and they should be allowed to have parent that will be around and healthy util they grown up.

Cathy
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Marcie, why do you have to adopt a baby? Because it is your "choice"? Shame on you! Your being SELFish!

Jenn
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Hmmm, 400 families at $15000 each, I wonder how exactly this "non profit" agency went bankrupt!

People, adoption is about the children, not about the families. I am an adoptive mother who adopted from foster care. I adopted older children and have loved every minute. It was about them, not about me.

Don't adopt overseas "expecting" a baby. ADoption is never absolute and should not be treated as a commodity. We need to assist nations in self sufficiency, not adopting all of their children out. How do we know these adopting are ethical? How do we know it is not like the 60's scoop here in Canada?

I am sorry for there loss, but they have no guarantee of a child, so consider the $15000 they spent a gift to the capitalists who run their "non profit" agencies and traffic babies.

Jennifer
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Marcia:

You you you. I am sorry for your loss, but adopting is NOT about you and YOUR desires. It is about CHILDREN and you may not get a baby, you just have to get over it. I am in the same boat, by the way, infertile and chose adoption of three children aged 4,5,6. I did it ethically and put my own grief aside and didn't try to find a loophole to getting a baby.

Adoption is not a right and babies are not commodities.

GIO in BC
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I really can't believe the mentality of some people. I am very much appalled by most of the negative comments. I have 3 adopted children in my family all adopted from outside the country and thank God for them! Since when is it more important to spend billions of dollars bailing out large corporations than to save children in need? Maybe those who work in these large corporations need to suck it up! It's not the governments fault that these people made poor career choices! Sound familiar Matt? A child is NOT and investment, they are a precious LIFE and valuable GIFT!!!

GeraldMcIvor
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This adoption process is nothing less than a legal human trafficking scheme. Kind of like the sixties scoop process that was perpetrated on First Nations in Canada. People are complaining of how much money they lost in buying a child from the thrid world. State sanctioned human trafficking should be stopped. Adoopt domestic orphans first. These processes should be absoluely cost free for potential adoptive families. Spending one cent to adopt a child is nothing less than human trafficking...