This document discusses the need for a national missing persons framework in Canada. It notes that currently, policies and responses to missing persons cases are inconsistent across jurisdictions, and there is no overarching coordination. The document outlines key objectives that a framework should achieve, including prevention, coordinated response, family support, and protection of vulnerable people. It argues a framework is needed to set clear roles, objectives, and commitments to improve how Canada addresses missing persons at a national level.

1. Why Canada Needs a Missing Persons Framework
Written by: Maureen Trask On: Nov. 3, 2022 Page 1 of 6
The issue of “Missing” has not been addressed as a national issue across Canada. The closest we have
come is perhaps the MMIWG national inquiry final report, June 2019, which still needs action to ensure
the recommendations are implemented, let alone many other recommendations from jurisdiction specific
reports such as the Pickton’s Review Report, Dec. 2012 and Toronto’s Missing and Missed Report, Apr.
2021 to name a few.
However, who is reviewing all of these recommendations in the broader context to determine what is
most useful to implement at a national level, across our country for all impacted by the issue of Missing?
Who is focussing on the bigger picture of the missing in our country? Families are constantly left trying to
navigate the inconsistent and fragmented landscape of the Missing without resources or support.
I’ve been told repeatedly that Policing is not a federal responsibility. Anyone who has or had had a
missing person, knows from experience that Policing is not the only player when it comes to missing
persons. Where is the response from these players, where is the collective framework?
Historically, missing persons has not been a priority, nor has there been a public outcry, with the
exception of recent Indigenous voices. Jurisdictional issues create gaps and confusion across this
nation.
By not addressing Missing on a national level, this has resulted in:
• No national accountability for Missing Persons across Canada.
• No minimum standards and procedures to find Missing Persons.
• No national prevention or awareness for Missing Persons.
• No standard reporting of Missing Persons by Stats Canada.
• No grants to ensure national research into the issue of Missing.
• No consistent support services for the Missing or for the families left behind.
• No job protection or compensation for families impacted by a missing person.
• No national Missing Persons Helpline for all missing persons or their families.
• No consistent legislation to ensure fair and equal treatment across all Canadian jurisdictions.
• No consistent funding to account for adequate resources to address the issue of Missing.
• No prompt response when jurisdiction change, causing delays in searching and family support.
Through my lived experience, I came to learn that there is no national framework for Missing Persons, no
standard Police procedures, and fragmented data collection across Canada. This presents confusion as
to how missing person cases are handled and the size of the issue it is presenting in our communities.
There is no concerted effort to keep an eye on the landscape of the Missing, let alone how it is changing.
Society is responsive to search and find missing children. However, when it comes to missing adults, like
my son Daniel, there is varied levels of response, and even less to support the families left behind.
Nobody is immune to missing, no country is without this issue, and age should not matter.
After learning that Police could not get access to personal information of the missing person or search
locations, where there was no evidence of crime, I spent 5 years getting a Missing Persons Act in
Ontario (in effect July 1, 2019). This legislation is still needed in QC, NB, PEI, NWT, and Nunavut.
In 2019 my focus was on gathering input from families who have experienced a missing loved one and
where they believe change is necessary. The report titled Missing Persons - Recommendations
released on Jan. 20, 2020 was the result of this input that was consolidated into various
recommendations to inform those who could potentially lead this change. Please take the time to read
the report.
My hope is that the experienced based recommendations will result in positive action, real change, which
will improve the handling of missing persons and end the uncertainty for all families with missing loved
ones across Canada.

2. Why Canada Needs a Missing Persons Framework
Written by: Maureen Trask On: Nov. 3, 2022 Page 2 of 6
This Government's vision should be to build capacity and ensure a fairer Canada where everyone feels
included and properly supported, including our most vulnerable people.
Every year police jurisdictions across Canada receive 70,000 to 80,000 calls reporting missing persons.
Around two thirds of these are children and young people, who are especially vulnerable to harm and
exploitation. Better tracking and research are needed to better understand these numbers and trends.
As part of a government initiative to address the disturbing number of unsolved cases of murdered and
missing Aboriginal women, the RCMP was directed to develop a centre to provide specialised services to
all Missing Person (MP) and Unidentified Remains (UR) investigations in Canada. The result is the
National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR).
Building on the vision and work done in response to a resolution of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of
Police (CACP), the NCMPUR implemented a national program providing investigators across Canada
with enhanced services including:
• national data sharing;
• sophisticated analytical support;
• liaison and coordination; and
• development of investigation best practices.
These services include the national DNA index for Missing Persons, the national public website for
Missing and Unidentified, Missing Persons Best Practices, Missing Person Statistics, and investigative
support for police. See National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR) |
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (rcmp-grc.gc.ca) for more information. Additional related links are:
• National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (canadasmissing.ca)
• National Missing Persons DNA Program | Royal Canadian Mounted Police (rcmp-grc.gc.ca)
• Home (canadasmissing.ca), along with Publications (canadasmissing.ca)
In order to better capture and understand patterns in the data, I’ve compiled a chart titled “Stats –
Patterns in the Data” using the published data provided from the NCMPUR for 7 years (2015-2021) Fast
Fact Sheets. These fact sheet have been compiled for the NCMPUR by the Program Research and
Development Unit (PRDU).
The source data can be analyzed further to better understand where the priority lies based on growing
trends of concern. The detail allows breakdown by age group (adult or child), by sex (male or female) by
occurrence type, and by province/territory.
There is a growing body of knowledge, funding, and priority on the issue of trafficking. The connection to
missing persons is showing more occurrences under Human Trafficking (22 Adult, 27 Children/Youth)
which is concerning. There needs to be more action at the initial occurrence of “Missing,” along with
appropriate prevention and protection before individuals go missing.

3. Why Canada Needs a Missing Persons Framework
Written by: Maureen Trask On: Nov. 3, 2022 Page 3 of 6
Fast facts: (Adults)
• 56% of missing adult reports in 2021 involved males
• 65% of adults who wandered off in 2021 were males
• 53% of all missing persons reports (all sexes, adults and children) involved adults
• 60% of missing adult reports in 2021 were removed within 24 hours, while 89% were removed
within a week Footnote4
• In 2021, British Columbia had the highest number of missing adult reports per capita, with 258
reports per 100,000 people, followed by the Manitoba with 152 reports per 100,000 people.
Nunavut had the lowest, with five (5) reports per 100,000 people.
Fast facts: (Children/Adolescents)
• 59% of all missing children/youth reports in 2021 involved females
• 72% of all missing children/youth subjects in 2021 were runaways, 59% of which were female.
Manitoba had the highest number of child/youth runaway subjects.
• 25 female missing children/youth subjects were related to human trafficking, 23 (92%) of which
were in Ontario. However, others being trafficked are suspected to be entered as runaway or
unknown because of the ambiguity in both terms and the circumstances.
• 67% of missing children/youth reports in 2021 were removed within 24 hours, while 92% were
removed within a week Footnote6
• 52% of all missing persons reports (all sexes, adults and children) involve children or youth
• In 2021, Manitoba had the highest number of missing children/youth reports per capita, with 375
reports per 100,000 people, followed by Saskatchewan with 331 reports per 100,000 people.
Prince Edward Island and Nunavut had the lowest, with between two to three (2-3) reports per
100,000 people.

4. Why Canada Needs a Missing Persons Framework
Written by: Maureen Trask On: Nov. 3, 2022 Page 4 of 6
Some research elsewhere shows there is a higher prevalence of mental health problems in adults -
diagnosed and undiagnosed - meaning that this group is especially vulnerable too. This has not been
researched in Canada. Fortunately, the vast majority (89%) of adults and who go missing are either
contacted or returned safely to their homes within a week.
Going missing can be a clear sign that something is wrong in a person's life. For many, they are having
problems at home, at school or at work. The evidence tells us that anyone can become vulnerable. Some
of us may already know of people who have gone missing or who have seriously thought of running away
from issues in their lives. In some cases, they could be our loved ones - but, in others, our friends, our
neighbours or people we are aware of from our communities. That is why all of us should make missing
persons our business. We should all have a duty to look out for the most vulnerable in our communities.
Often the problems which lead to someone going missing can lead to a dangerous cycle of repeat
incidents. It is important, therefore, that agencies join together to understand, and try to deal with the
issues which may be lying behind any individual case.
Canada is lagging when it comes to having a Missing Persons Framework that provides a basis for such
an understanding. Although there has been some effort to setup a National Missing Persons and
Unidentified program, it holds no authority to ensure it is utilized consistently across our country. Police
jurisdictions may choose to apply missing person best practises or not. This creates other issues,
particularly when a missing person case involves multiple jurisdictions across Canada. This is a major
issue in Canada with more mobility from one end of the country to the other, or from north to south, and
rural to urban.

5. Why Canada Needs a Missing Persons Framework
Written by: Maureen Trask On: Nov. 3, 2022 Page 5 of 6
So, why does Canada need a Missing Persons Framework? Simply stated, to ensure fairness and equity
for all missing persons and the families left behind. The framework needs to achieve an accountable,
transparent, consistent process in finding missing persons and support the families left behind. It needs
to include the following core objectives:
PREVENT: To introduce preventive measures to reduce the number of missing person occurrences.
RESPOND: To respond consistently and appropriately to missing persons occurrences.
SUPPORT: To provide the best possible support to both missing people and their families.
PROTECT: To protect vulnerable missing people and reduce the risks of harm.
To address all interests, there needs to be a close collaboration between the Canadian government at all
levels, all Police jurisdictions, Canada Health, Victim Services, Justice Services, and a number of third
sector organisations, including the NCMPUR, Missing and Exploited Children, CMHA, CAMH, MMIW and
Canada’s Missing Persons Research Hub (MPRH). These organisations all recognise that the issue
requires a coherent, multi-agency response.
As proven by Scotland as well as other countries who have implemented their own national Missing
Persons Framework, this will:
• set out the roles and responsibilities of the respective agencies, as well as key national objectives
and supporting commitments on which to focus our efforts on missing persons.
• ensure that we have an effective frontline response when someone goes missing and also be able to
put in place measures to prevent people from going missing in the first place.
• provide reporting that will measure the effectiveness of efforts to address the issue of Missing.
There is already a wealth of best practices identified through the efforts of NCMPUR, Best Practices for
Missing Person Investigations, 2017 (currently being updated). Through this Framework, we also need to
ensure that this is utilized and adhered to consistently.
A Missing Persons Framework, I believe that we will take a major step forward in our efforts to protect
some of Canada's most vulnerable individuals and ensure that families are supported.
The Framework needs to clarify responsibilities and set out a clear set of objectives and supporting
commitments by all. It also needs to include an Implementation Plan and make a commitment to review
progress. Through this, it will improve the way we deal with the issue of Missing in Canada and bring
more consistency to bear on how we protect and support missing people and their families.
Ultimately, it will be for all of us to look out for vulnerable people in our communities. Whether they are our
neighbours, our friends, or people that we know of otherwise, we all have a duty to spot the signs and
seek help for those who need it.
It is my belief that if Canada adopts a Missing Persons Framework, and our agencies work together, we
will be able to provide people at risk of going missing and their families with the obligations to prevent,
respond, support, and protect that them, that they need and deserve.
Throughout the past 12 years, it is evident of the lack of priority or focus on the issues for all Missing
Persons. I was dismayed to learn of how little legislative response was in place. This was mostly
deemed a Police response at the jurisdictional level, not across the entire country. My mission was to
change this through advocacy and the voices of the families impacted.
Missing Persons Legislative Advocacy:
• Petition “Ontario needs Missing Persons Legislation” was introduced to Ontario Parliament
by MPP Catherine Fife on Oct. 20, 2014. Bill 175 Safer Ontario Act was given royal assent in
March 2018, the Missing Persons Act is part of this bill, Schedule 7, in effect on July 1, 2019

6. Why Canada Needs a Missing Persons Framework
Written by: Maureen Trask On: Nov. 3, 2022 Page 6 of 6
For details see: Ontario Gets Missing Person Legislation.
• Petition “Declare a National Missing Persons Day in Canada” e-1272, tabled Jan. 29, 2018,
the re-response from the government was unsatisfactory, and no further response was allowed.
For details see: Declare a National Missing Persons Day in Canada
• Petition “Develop a National Silver Alert strategy for Canada” e-1588, presented Feb. 7,
2019. Gov. Response on April 1, 2019. For details: Silver Alert Canada
• Advocating that “Canada needs a national Missing Persons Framework.” For more info,
read the report titled Missing Persons - Recommendations released Jan. 20, 2020.
• Hon. Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu made a Statement in tribute to the Missing and to raise
awareness that Canada needs a Missing Persons Framework, Dec. 1, 2020.
Other Legislation still needed includes:
• National Missing Persons Alert System (Amber, Silver, Vulnerable)
• National Missing Persons Week (like Saskatchewan) or Month
• National Guardianship/Presumption of Death or Missing Persons Status
• National Employment Leave and/or Financial Compensation for Families
• National No Body, No Parole Law
• National Missing Persons SAR Procedures and Protocol
• National Missing Persons Support (like Victims of Crime and Victim Services)
Hopefully, I’ve answered the question of why Canada needs a Missing Persons Framework and given
some practical information to help make it a reality. If anything, it has helped to plant seeds for the
Missing.
Respectfully submitted by,
Maureen Trask, Advocate for the Missing and the Families Left Behind
35 Fox Run Drive,
Puslinch, ON
N0B 2J0
Email: trasker@rogers.com
Cell: 519-884-3285
In Loving Memory of Daniel Trask