QUESTION PERIOD — Employment and Social Development
Forced Adoptions
February 26, 2026
Senator Moreau, my question is on the cruel practice of forced adoptions in Canada from 1945 to 1971. More than 300,000 unmarried Canadian women were cruelly separated from their babies. Canada is not the only country that treated unmarried mothers this way, but unlike Australia, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, the Government of Canada has yet to formally apologize.
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology conducted a study in 2018 and recommended a formal apology, because that is important in helping survivors heal.
Senator Moreau, these mothers, whose lives were changed forever, are starting to run out of time —
Thank you, Senator Petitclerc. I will ask Senator Moreau to try to answer the question.
I understand the question. Senator Petitclerc, I appreciate your sincerity in raising issues as important as this one, in stark contrast to the debate in which the chamber was previously engaged during question period.
The government is cognizant of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology’s report on the forced adoptions of the babies of unmarried mothers in post-war Canada. It recognizes the importance of this matter. You’re right: No apology was ever made, and the government acknowledges that. I will bring your question to the minister’s attention and convey your interest in an official apology and in ensuring the government acts on the committee’s recommendations.
Thank you, Senator Moreau. With all due respect, I urge you to be forceful. Many of these women had the courage to appear before the committee and share their story with us. Some have stayed in touch with me, with some of my colleagues and with our former colleague, Senator Eggleton. At the very least, these women deserve an answer to my question.
Thank you for bringing these matters to my attention, senator. I don’t have many years of experience in the Senate and even less in the role that I hold today, because I was appointed to this position after I arrived in the Senate.
This is the kind of issue that received extensive prior consideration in committee. Thank you for bringing this file to my attention. In return, I can assure you that I will pass the Senate’s message on to the government.
