Ontario removes adoption fees

Community Action, Jan 24, 2005

TORONTO -- As adoption agencies receive a massive increase of requests for adoption of children from the tzunami-hit areas of South East Asia, Ontario's Youth Services Minister Dr. Marie Bountrogianni announced that the provincial government has eliminated all fees for intercountry adoptions.

In 2000, the provincial government began collecting a fee of $460 for international adoptions involving relatives and $925 for non-relatives under the Intercountry Adoption Act. The fee has now been cancelled.

"This government's intention has always been to eliminate the processing fee for international adoptions."

Most provincial governments charge fees for intercountry adoptions.