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 have since called on governments to expand the criteria for emergency alerts or create a separate alert for missing vulnerable children. In a news release, the province said it will identify opportunities to strengthen systems and processes used when a vulnerable person goes missing. 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. 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,” said Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis. “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.
