30,000 Canadian Children Wait for Adoption

More than 20% of Canadians are or have considered adopting a child in Canada, but 75% of these potential parents are concerned about the cost.

There is good news for them in 2014: the Adoption Expense Tax Credit has been increased to $15,000. 

But there is an even bigger barrier to adoption, according to the Canadian Foster Care Adoption Attitudes Survey (2013). The survey found that 82% of parents who would consider adopting cite coping with paperwork and bureaucracy as a major concern;  this, despite the fact that 30,000 Canadian children are waiting for adoption.

In the meantime, more than 1,000 Canadians adopted from abroad in 2013, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Of Canadians who have friends or family who have been adopted, private and foster care adoption is most favourable (95 per cent), compared to international adoption (88 per cent).