- Calgary police have found the body of missing 11-year-old Parker, a boy with autism, which has deeply affected Conservative MP and party leader.
The disappearance and tragic death of Parker Wells, an 11-year-old boy with autism, has ignited a call for a new alert system for vulnerable children in Canada. Parker went missing on July 16 after wandering from his daycare in Calgary and was later found dead in a network of pipes.
Conservative MP Mike Lake and party leader Pierre Poilievre, both fathers of children with autism, are advocating for a Canada-wide framework for public alerts for missing vulnerable children, regardless of whether foul play is suspected. They argue that current emergency alert systems are inadequate for non-verbal children like Parker, who may wander off without any indication of danger.1
“The danger existed from the moment Parker went missing. The alert system should have been able to respond from that moment,” Lake and Poilievre stated in a letter to Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski. They emphasize that nearly half of children with autism are prone to wandering, according to Autism Canada.
In addition to public alerts, the politicians are also calling for improved training for first responders and enhanced search protocols for missing children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Olszewski acknowledged receipt of their letter and plans to meet with Lake to discuss the proposals.
“While provinces and territories are responsible for deciding when and how many types of alerts are issued, we remain committed to working together to ensure Canadians receive timely and reliable emergency alerts when they need them most,” she stated.
“The tragic death of Parker, who had autism, has deeply affected the local community and political leaders. Olszewski, a Conservative MP, expressed her commitment to addressing the issues surrounding emergency alerts and communications in light of this incident.”
