179 (1) In this Part, “birth parent” means a person who satisfies the prescribed criteria; (“parent de naissance”) “birth relative” means, (a) in respect of a child who has not been adopted, a relative of the child, and (b) in respect of a child who has been adopted, a person who would have been a relative of the child if the child had not been adopted; (“membre de la parenté de naissance”) “birth sibling” means, in respect of a person, a child of the same birth parent as the person, and includes a child adopted by the birth parent and a person whom the birth parent has demonstrated a settled intention to treat as a child of their family; (“frère ou soeur de naissance”) “openness agreement” means an agreement referred to in section 212; (“accord de communication”) “openness order” means an order made by a court in accordance with this Act for the purposes of facilitating communication or maintaining a relationship between the child and, (a) a birth parent, birth sibling or birth relative of the child, (b) a person with whom the child has a significant relationship or emotional tie, including a foster parent of the child or a member of the child’s extended family or community, or (c) in the case of a First Nations, Inuk or Métis child, (i) a person described in clause (a) or (b), or (ii) a member of the child’s bands and First Nations, Inuit or Métis communities who may not have had a significant relationship or emotional tie with the child in the past but will help the child to develop or maintain a connection with the child’s First Nations, Inuit or Métis cultures, heritages and traditions and to preserve the child’s cultural identity and connection to community; (“ordonnance de communication”) “spouse” has the same meaning as in Parts I and II of the Human Rights Code. (“conjoint”) Best interests of child (2) Where a person is directed in this Part to make an order or determination in the best interests of a child, the person shall, (a) consider the child’s views and wishes, given due weight in accordance with the child’s age and maturity, unless they cannot be ascertained; (b) in the case of a First Nations, Inuk or Métis child, consider the importance, in recognition of the uniqueness of First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures, heritages and traditions, of preserving the child’s cultural identity and connection to community, in addition to the considerations under clauses (a) and (c); and (c) consider any other circumstance of the case that the person considers relevant, including, (i) the child’s physical, mental and emotional needs, and the appropriate care or treatment to meet those needs, (ii) the child’s physical, mental and emotional level of development, (iii) the child’s race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, family diversity, disability, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, (iv) the child’s cultural and linguistic heritage, (v) the importance for the child’s development of a positive relationship with a parent and a secure place as a member of a family, (vi) the child’s relationships and emotional ties to a parent, sibling, relative, other member of the child’s extended family or member of the child’s community, (vii) the importance of continuity in the child’s care and the possible effect on the child of disruption of that continuity, and (viii) the effects on the child of delay in the disposition of the case. Consent to Adoption