The Yukon government will bring forward amendments to the Vital Statistics Act to remove any discrimination against same-sex parents.

Health and Social Services Minister Doug Graham made that pledge during an interview this morning.

The NDP put forward a motion Monday urging the government to table the changes and to review and bring forward amendments to any other legislation that discriminates against same-sex couples in a "timely manner.”

Graham told the Star the issue with the Vital Statistics Act was brought to his attention earlier this year after a constituent raised concerns with Scott Kent, the Yukon Party MLA for Riverdale North.

Graham said since that time he's been working with his department and the Department of Justice to develop amendments to the act and to identifying other discriminatory pieces of legislation.

In its current iteration, the Vital Statistics Act prevents same-sex couples who have used a sperm donor from including both parents' names on a child's birth certificate until the non-biological parent adopts the child – a process that can take up to a year.

On the other hand, in the case of a heterosexual couple using a sperm donor, the non-biological father's name can be included on the birth certificate without an adoption process, NDP Health critic Jan Stick said today.

"It's inequitable treatment, and it shouldn't be allowed,” she said.

"At one time, we led the country, we were the first jurisdiction to allow for same-sex marriages, and now we're just at the bottom again because we haven't adjusted our legislation,” Stick said.

The NDP would unanimously support amendments brought forward by the government to remove discriminatory elements in the act, she added.

Graham said he found the issue frustrating because the change should have been made years ago.

"It wasn't, and I didn't know about it,” he told the Star.

"As soon as we found out about it, we moved as quickly as we could to make the changes,” he said.

"We have done everything we could to make sure that it was introduced and done this session because we agree with them; it's wrong, and it should have been done years ago.”

Changes to the Children's Law Act will also be brought forward this sitting because it's referenced in the Vital Statistics Act, Graham explained, noting the changes will be retroactive.

The Departments of Justice and Health and Social Services have identified six other pieces of legislation which also require amendments, but those won't be completed this spring.

"We have to make sure it's done properly,” said Graham.

If any mistakes are made in the changes to the Vital Statistics Act, or anything is missed, he said, they will be corrected when amendments are brought forward for the other six acts.

See tomorrow's paper to read about one Yukon family's experience in trying to register their baby's birth.