Silver Alert Petition with 7,300 Signatures Presented in Ottawa

URGENT UPDATE: A significant step has been taken in the fight to establish a Silver Alert system in Canada, following the presentation of an online petition in the House of Commons that garnered over 7,300 signatures. Conservative MP Raquel Dancho submitted the petition in Ottawa on Tuesday, demanding a system that would alert mobile phones geographically when vulnerable seniors go missing, similar to existing Amber Alerts for children.

This petition comes after the heartbreaking case of Earl Moberg, an 81-year-old man with advanced dementia, who was last seen on December 12, 2023, while taking a walk in North Kildonan. His family, including daughter Britt Moberg, has been vocal about the urgent need for such a system. Britt attended the petition presentation, expressing her deep gratitude for this pivotal moment.

“It’s been a long, long journey for us to get to that point,” Britt shared with CTV News. “The night my dad went missing, we didn’t have a way to really reach the public. Even with the police’s official post the next day, we found weeks, even months into the search, meeting people who lived in that area and who weren’t aware that my dad was missing.”

Britt highlighted the critical nature of timely responses in such situations, stating, “Within 12 hours – if somebody with dementia is not found, there’s already a 50 percent chance that they’re injured or deceased.” Her words underscore the pressing need for immediate action to protect vulnerable individuals.

The federal government has 45 days to respond to this petition, raising hopes among families and advocates that a Silver Alert system could soon become a reality. This new initiative aims to prevent tragic outcomes and provide swift assistance when seniors go missing.

As the petition gains traction, the call for a Silver Alert system resonates across Canada. Families affected by similar situations are rallying behind this movement, hoping to ensure that no other family experiences the pain of searching for a missing loved one without adequate support.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as the government reviews the petition and considers the implementation of a system that could save lives.