'It's about time." That's all Emily O'Neill had to say about the Nova Scotia government's decision to change the birth registration process to give same-sex parents the same rights as heterosexual ones.

O'Neill gave birth to her first child, daughter Jordyn, six weeks ago, but was unable to list her spouse, Jamie O'Neill, on the birth certificate because the Vital Statistics Act hadn't been changed to include same-sex couples.

The couple was told Jamie would have to adopt the baby because could not be recognized as Jordyn's parent because she's a woman.

But yesterday, Service Nova Scotia Minister Jamie Muir announced the changes, effective immediately, to ensure the birth registration process complies with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Muir said he's been aware of the problem the legislation was causing for about a month.

The new Vital Statistics regulations allow the same-sex partner or spouse of the birth mother to be registered as the other parent on the birth registration.