Can more than two people be recognized as a child's legal parents in Ontario?

Yes. Ontario's parentage rules were updated to reflect that children are sometimes conceived through arrangements involving more than two adults — for example, a same-sex couple using a known donor who remains involved in the child's life, or a surrogacy arrangement with genetically connected intended parents. Where the adults involved enter into a written agreement before conception setting out who is intended to be a parent, more than two people can be recognized as the child's legal parents, up to a small number set by the legislation.

This is different from simply having several adults informally involved in a child's life; recognition as a legal parent under this route depends on a properly documented pre-conception agreement identifying everyone who is meant to have that status. Without such an agreement, the default rules apply and typically recognize only two parents. Anyone planning an arrangement involving more than two intended parents should get legal advice and put a written agreement in place before conception.