The Alberta government says it will review its response to cases involving missing vulnerable people, including how emergency alerts are used. The move, announced Monday, follows the death of 11-year-old Parker Wells, an autistic, non-verbal boy who left his daycare home in Calgary and was missing for nearly two weeks. Parker was found dead in a culvert system on the west side of Deerfoot Trail on July 29. Police issued an Amber Alert days after his disappearance after obtaining a special exemption. Advocates say the case highlights gaps in the current alert system. “Whether it’s an Indigo Alert or an expansion of the Amber Alert system, the gap is huge and it just has to be filled,” said Jennifer Ball. Ball, who is one of the organizers of a petition calling for an Indigo Alert and a parent of an autistic child, says children with autism are particularly vulnerable. “Sometimes we bring them home safe and other times we won’t,” she said. In a news release, the province said it will identify opportunities to strengthen systems and processes used when a vulnerable person goes missing. “There’s been multiple reviews that are going to be occurring right now,” said Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis. The Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services will engage with law enforcement, disability advocates and community partners as part of the review. The process will also examine the province’s Amber Alert system and its current criteria. Ellis acknowledged an exception was made in the Wells case to issue an alert. “I was asked to override the system and I overrode the system to make sure that alert was put out,” Ellis said. The Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services will also review the policies, procedures and protocols of Wells’ care provider, Responsive Children’s Supports Ltd. “We want to make sure we learn from what happened,” Ellis said. “We will carefully review what happened and consider all recommendations to strengthen protections for vulnerable children,” said Assisted Living and Social Services Minister Nathan Neudorf.
