Well, I did it! As many of you may be aware, Newfoundland and Labrador changed it's legistation last April, including a 1 year implementation delay. Effective April 30 (35 days from now) the records of many Newfoundland adoptions will be accessable to the involved parties. The years delay allows those parties who wish to remain anonomous to file a disclosure veto (keeping their identity out of any released documents) or a no contact declaration (releases identity by carries a $10000 fine if contact is established). So what did I do? I filed an "Application for Service) requesting that all records, names etc pertaining to my adoption be released to me. I visited the Department of Vital Statics office in St. John's (be happy to give you directions if you want) and filled out one quick form with adoptive parents paticulars and my birth date, etc. Let them photocopy my birth certificate and paid $50 (does anyone else see the irony in paying the government to release to you what is essentially your own identity??) They actually conduct this paticular transaction in private. When I went to the counter I was directed to a meeting room where a "supervisor" met with me. at first I figured this was going to be some big "are you sure of your feelings" social work trip, but it wasn't. She was real nice, not trying to get inside your head or anything, just friendly. we actually chatted quite a bit about the whole process and I learned a lot. I asked her about the penelty for violating the "no contact" order if I should encounter one and she told me about the 10 grand. She suprised me to say that out of over 18000 applicable adoptions, she only has about 150 applications for information like mine and a similar quantity of veto's & no-contacts (combined). Just this past week the Newfoundland government launched a mass mailing campaign to ensure anyone and everyone knows before April 30. I guess if they start spilling the beans without giving people a chance to prevent it then they open themselves for liability. for this reason I knew they'd take some kind of measures but I had hoped for something a little more low key. Let's face it, I want my information however I have to get it. I'd prefer if the people I find want to be found but if them forgetting to file some form is the only way, I'll take it. Anyway, I was informed that I'll "hear something in May" so now the waiting gets a little more intense than it's been for the last 30+ years. What do you think? I'm interested in all comments and happy to answer any questions. Oh yeah, I'm writing all this stuff as I remember it, don't bet the farm on any of these facts, check it out yourself first.
