What We Heard report released on child naming and parentage laws

The Government of Yukon has released the Inclusive Yukon Families: What We Heard report, summarizing feedback on child naming and parentage laws. The public-engagement, which took place from February to April 2024, aimed to understand barriers, burdens and inequities within the current legislative framework and explore how the Yukon’s laws can be modernized to better reflect the diversity of Yukon families.

The report identifies key challenges in the Yukon’s current naming and

parentage laws. It highlights barriers faced by Indigenous communities seeking to reclaim traditional names, 2SLGBTQIA+ families striving for legal recognition and individuals using assisted reproduction or surrogacy to grow their families.

Key findings in this report include the following.

• 44 per cent of respondents agreed that parents should be able to include letters and characters that are not part of the Roman alphabet in their child’s name.
• Many Indigenous respondents emphasized the importance of name reclamation as a step toward reconciliation and cultural preservation.
• Feedback on parentage laws indicated a need for more inclusive definitions that recognize diverse family compositions, including families formed through surrogacy, egg and sperm donation and polyamorous relationships.
• There is broad support for ensuring children’s rights and best interests remain central in determining legal parentage.

This report will inform the Government of Yukon’s next steps in potential legislative changes to the Children’s Law Act, Vital Statistics Act and Change of Name Act.

In 2023, our government committed to modernizing the Yukon’s legislation to better reflect the diversity of our families and ensure inclusivity for all Yukoners. This report reflects the voices of Yukoners who have shared their lived experiences and the challenges they face with our current naming and parentage laws. Their insights will help guide meaningful legislative changes that recognize and support families in the Yukon and promote inclusivity.

Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee

Quick facts

• The engagement process took place between February and April 2024 and included an online survey and targeted in-person discussions with Yukoners who have lived experience with naming and parentage laws.

• 154 Yukoners participated in the engagement, with approximately 70 per cent self-identifying as persons with lived experience.

• Over 60 per cent of respondents supported expanding the legal definition of “parent” to include individuals who are not biologically related to the child, such as those who use surrogacy or assisted reproduction.

• The report will inform potential legislative changes to the Children’s Law Act, Vital Statistics Act and Change of Name Act to ensure inclusivity in the Yukon.

• The report aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #17, which calls on governments to enable Indigenous Peoples to reclaim and use their traditional names on official government documents.

• The Government of Yukon will review the report’s findings and consider legislative amendments to ensure child naming and parentage laws reflect the Yukon’s diverse families. This will involve further analysis, collaboration with stakeholders and potential legal reforms in the coming months.