Calgary Nose Hill MP Michelle Rempel Garner has launched a parliamentary petition calling for expanded emergency alerts for vulnerable children. “This is a non-partisan, official parliamentary petition asking officials to work together and build more tools to help prevent tragedies like one that recently occurred in my community of north-central Calgary,” Rempel Garner said in a news release. She said current emergency alerts are generally issued in cases of suspected child abductions, while obtaining exemptions for missing vulnerable children can cause delays. “When a child’s life is at risk, there cannot be any delay in deploying life-saving tools and supports,” she said. The petition comes after the death of 11-year-old Parker Wells, an autistic and non-speaking boy who left his daycare before disappearing for nearly two weeks. Wells was later found dead in a culvert system on the west side of Deerfoot Trail. Police issued an Amber Alert for Wells days after his disappearance by obtaining a special exemption. Since then, advocates have called on governments to broaden the criteria for emergency alerts or create a separate alert for missing vulnerable children. Jen Ball, the mother of an autistic and non-speaking child, launched an online petition calling for changes that has received more than 36,000 signatures. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has also called for new measures to help save lives. Premier Danielle Smith has said she is open to changes that would give law enforcement more discretion when deciding whether to issue alerts. Rempel Garner said that, as an official parliamentary petition, e-7643 can be presented in the House of Commons if it receives enough signatures. The federal government is required to respond to petitions presented in the House. “That is why I have sponsored petition e-7643, which aims to expand emergency alerts in cases where autistic, non-speaking, special-needs, or otherwise vulnerable children go missing,” she said. The petition also calls for stronger first-responder training protocols to ensure responders are trained to understand the needs of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
