Canadians heartbroken that plans to adopt a Russian child have failed.
Photo Credit: CBC

Couple’s hope of adopting Russian child dashed

A Canadian couple spent $25,000 to adopt a Russian child but now have given up hope after being told Russia has closed adoptions to countries that allow same-sex marriages. Sweden is the latest country affected and it appears Canada is next.

Unable to have their own children, Pam and Adam Webber were in the final stages of a year-long process of international adoption. There are not many Canadian children available for adoption so people often seek children overseas.

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In 2012 UNICEF estimated that there are about 740,000 children not in parental custody in Russia while about 18,000 Russians are on the waiting list to adopt a child. © CBC

Russian adoption was supposed to be quicker

The Webbers chose Russia because they heard the process would be quicker. They prepared a toddler’s room and Pam quit her job so she could fly to Russia at a moment’s notice this fall.

Although there is no official word that Canadians are ineligible to adopt in Russia, the Webbers ’adoption agency has informed them their adoption plan is off .

“Heart wrenching”

“It’s just heart wrenching and really hard to take,” said Pam.

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