BC's MCFD MINISTER WANTS TO INCREASE ADOPTIONS IN BC (i.e. let's give the customers (adopters) what they want and solve the "problem of foster kids")

From the 2002 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 37th Parliament HANSARD
Official Report of DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2002 Afternoon Sitting
Volume 6, Number 3

"Hon. G. Hogg: ... .. I had a briefing from our staff with respect to the Adoption Act and the issues in that. There were some minor changes that they were hoping to make to the Adoption Act. I asked why we were trying to make them. The concern was that there are so many adoptive parents in British Columbia who were going to places like Kentucky and Georgia in an effort to find children to adopt .... My response and the response of our government is that we should actually be making it much easier to adopt in British Columbia and trying to facilitate that ... We will complete a new family assessment model that will develop a plan for a new initiative, which will also look at ways that we might increase adoptions.

"The last figure I saw in terms of the number of children in British Columbia currently eligible for adoption is about…. I'm going out on a limb. I think the last figure I saw was in the range of 600. Of course, that figure varies. Certainly, if there's anybody watching or listening or reading, we have a lot of wonderful children in this province who would love to be adopted and would love to have parents on a permanent basis.

"The number has just jumped to 742." ....

Copyright © 2002: British Columbia Hansard Services

From the 2003 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 37th Parliament HANSARD
Official Report of DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2003 Afternoon Sitting
Volume 13, Number 2

Adoptions of children in care are increasing. Two years ago, in fiscal 2000-01, the ministry placed 163 children for adoption. For fiscal year '01-02, the target for the number of adoptions reached 244. This year we placed 250 children by the end of January and are confident that by year-end, we will reach the target of 300. There were 360 homes available for adoption, of which 270 were willing and approved to adopt children with special needs.

From the 2003 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 37th Parliament HANSARD
Official Report of DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2003 Morning Sitting
Volume 13, Number 3

J. MacPhail: What role is adoption playing in the reduction in the number of children in care?

Hon. G. Hogg: With respect to adoption generally, the figures I have are for '97-98 and then 2001-02 and 2002-03. In '97-98 there were 111 children in care that were placed for adoption. In 2001-02 the target was 225 placements, and there were 243 children placed for adoption. This fiscal year, 2002-03, there have been over 300 children in care adoption placements In addition, there are about 267 children already proposed for specific families.

There have been 1,512 children of the 5,000 who are in continuing custody of the ministry that have adoption as their plan of care. Of these, 848 children are registered for adoption, and adoption homes are actively being sought for them. The figure for '01 is 163. In 2000-01 there were 163 adoptions.

From the 2003 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 37th Parliament HANSARD
Official Report of DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2003 Afternoon Sitting
Volume 13, Number 5

Hon. G. Hogg: If I may comment, the member had asked a question with respect to adoptions and the number of aboriginal children that were placed with adoptions. The number as of January 31, 2003 - within that year - was 111, which is 44 percent of the adoptions. The non-aboriginal children placed were 139, which was 55.6 percent of the adoptions.

2003 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 37th Parliament HANSARD
Official Report of DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2003 Afternoon Sitting
Volume 13, Number 9

Hon. G. Hogg: ... In fact, this year we've had more adoptions than any other year in the history of the province, and the number of adoptions has actually doubled over the past two years. We're over 300 adoptions this year, which is a dramatic growth and, I think, a very positive statement ...