Ontario to change law that forces same-sex couples to adopt their own kids

Ontario parents who conceive their children using assisted reproduction will get more legal rights as laws that require same-sex couples to adopt their own children are being updated.

The Liberal government is introducing the All Families Are Equal Act today, which would update a parentage law that hasn't been changed since 1978.

Some LGBT parents and others who are not biologically related to their children often need to go to court to be legally recognized as parents.

But the new legislation would ensure all couples who use assisted reproduction to conceive, including the use of a surrogate, are legally recognized as parents.

New Democrat Cheri DiNovo introduced a private member's bill last year to make birth registration services available to all LGBT families, saying it's not right that parents should have to adopt their own children.

She says her bill was modelled on legislation passed in British Columbia in 2014, and similar bills have been approved in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec.