Ottawa, ON – Today, Bill C-263, The Silver Alert National Framework Act, passed second reading in the House of Commons and will now be referred to committee for further study.
Introduced by Raquel Dancho, Member of Parliament for Kildonan—St. Paul, Bill C-263 seeks to establish a coordinated national framework for Silver Alerts to help quickly locate vulnerable seniors who go missing, particularly those living with dementia or other cognitive impairments.
“Today’s vote is an important step forward for vulnerable seniors, their families, and communities across Canada,” said Dancho. “When a senior living with dementia goes missing, every minute matters. Bill C-263 is about ensuring that Canadians can be alerted quickly and responsibly so more people know how to help and more families have a better chance of bringing their loved ones home safely.”
Bill C-263 was inspired by the tragic disappearance of Earl Moberg, a Winnipeg senior living with dementia who went missing in December 2023 and was never found. Following his disappearance, the Moberg family led a national petition, sponsored by Dancho, calling for a Silver Alert system in Canada. The petition received more than 7,300 signatures from Canadians across the country.
“For our family, this has always been about making sure others do not have to go through what we went through, and what we continue to live with every day because my dad was never found,” said Britt Moberg, daughter of Earl Moberg. “When someone living with dementia goes missing, minutes and hours can make all the difference. A Silver Alert would empower people in the community to help.”
By 2030, nearly one million Canadians are expected to be living with dementia, creating a growing public safety challenge when vulnerable seniors go missing. Rapid public awareness can be one of the most important factors in locating someone safely.
Canada already has the technological capacity to issue rapid, geotargeted emergency alerts through the National Public Alerting System, which distributes alerts to mobile devices, television, and radio. Bill C-263 would help ensure this existing infrastructure can be used more consistently and effectively when vulnerable adults go missing, while respecting provincial jurisdiction over policing and emergency management.
“The tools already exist. What has been missing is coordination,” Dancho added. “I am grateful to the Moberg family for their courage and tireless advocacy. Because of their leadership, this bill is now one step closer to helping protect vulnerable seniors across Canada.”
The bill will now proceed to committee, where parliamentarians will have the opportunity to hear from experts, families, law enforcement, and other stakeholders on how a national Silver Alert framework can be implemented effectively.