Nova Scotia legislature discusses modernizing birth registration process, parental recognition – Halifax | 24CA News

Question interval at Province House on Tuesday noticed considerations raised concerning the lengthy and troublesome course of for feminine {couples} to obtain parental recognition on beginning certificates.

“In so many areas of the law, particularly in the administrative areas, we still act like it’s the 1950s when it’s 2023,” Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender instructed media.

The dialog was began by Clayton Park West MLA Rafah DiCostanzo after listening to from two of her constituents who have been being questioned on how their little one was conceived.

“They were not allowed to have two names, their two names, on the birth certificate,” DiCostanzo instructed the room of coverage makers. “To my shock, I actually found out that the government actually spends time and resources calling the parents to find out how they conceived their child.”

DiCostanzo says she has now heard of many feminine {couples} in Nova Scotia going by way of related beginning certificates struggles, one in all which Global News reported on final October.

Service Nova Scotia Minister Colton LeBlanc replied on the legislature {that a} package deal of proposed amendments to modernize the beginning registration course of is within the works, with consultations taking place.

“We’re certainly taking all that information into consideration and experiences that Nova Scotians are living first-hand,” LeBlanc mentioned, “… of how we modernize this act and modernize the needs of Nova Scotians in our growing diverse population.”

DiCostanzo says these difficulties through the beginning registration course of don’t occur to 2 male dad and mom, the discriminations being unique to lesbian {couples}.

“We will be working on this,” she mentioned. “This is wrong and unfair on two females who have had a child and they’re married, legally married, in Nova Scotia.”

Chender instructed media she was unaware that this was taking place within the province, however doesn’t consider an extended evaluate is critical to maneuver ahead with change.

“Everyone ought to understand if they don’t already, including our government, that families come in all shapes and sizes,” she mentioned. “We’re already behind the times in acknowledging that.”

DiCostanzo mentioned she couldn’t consider that this was taking place in Nova Scotia, and is engaged on bringing ahead a invoice within the fall.

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