Adopted Haitian children may arrive soon: Kenney

The first of several groups of adopted Haitian children could be in Canada by the weekend, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says.

"We are working through the logistics of how we can transport them back here," Kenney told reporters Thursday.

Government officials have reviewed all the adoption cases in the system and have spoken to the vast majority of prospective parents, Kenney said,

"Of those we have spoken with, I am happy to say that we were able to confirm that all of the children that they are adopting have survived the earthquake, although a few are ill and have health concerns," Kenney said.

He said most of the cases are at the stage where Canadian officials can approach the Haitian government with a list to of children they've confirmed can be brought to Canada.

Kenney said Canada has identified 150 cases — 100 that were somewhat advanced in the process when the earthquake hit and 50 at more recent stages.

"The list we will prepare to present to the Haitian government will be those cases where Haitian children have been matched to parents and there is some documentation to confirm the adoption is in process with Haitian authorities," Kenney said.

He said many of the adoptive parents live in Quebec.

Kenney turned down Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's call Wednesday to broaden the definition of family for immigrants from Haiti. Ignatieff said the definition should include brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Kenney said such an improvised policy would be unfair to other groups.

"And I can guarantee you that if we were to follow their advice, I would have victims of the recent typhoons in Philippines, for whom we implemented the same special measures, calling me saying they too want to sponsor their cousins, their aunts, their uncles, their nieces, their nephews."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, speaking at a news conference Thursday in Truro, N.S., said Canada's immigration system is already among the most "generous" in the world regarding adoption and family reunification.

He also said that Kenney "has been very clear the government will do everything to facilitate the thousands of cases in the queue and to get those through as soon as possible."

Some aid groups disagree with fast-tracking

Several children's aid groups are urging Ottawa not to be in a hurry to encourage Canadians to adopt earthquake-scarred Haitian children separated from their parents.

The program co-ordinator for SOS Children's Villages said all efforts should be made to find the missing parents of any Haitian children before they are sent to Canada — a process that could take at least one year.

"The No. 1 reason is that they are not confirmed orphans," Kelsey Lemon said in an interview. "Right now they are what we call 'unaccompanied children,' so they may have extended family, relatives around that just haven't been able to reach them yet … their parents may be alive in a hospital somewhere."

Lemon was talking specifically about children who have lost contact with their parents since the Jan. 12 earthquake and not those who had already been approved for adoption in Canada.

The Adoption Council of Canada said it has been fielding an overwhelming number of inquiries from the public about how people can best help Haitian children, particularly about the possibility of adoption.

The council stressed that inter-country adoption, especially by non-relatives, should not be the first response to help homeless children who have been separated from their parents.

The council said if family members cannot be found, Haitian authorities may consider adoption by community members known to the child or by non-relatives within the country.

The first step is for authorities to ensure the children are truly orphaned, adding it may take several years to do that, the council said.