Bill C-263, the Silver Alert National Framework Act, introduced by my Manitoba Conservative colleague Raquel Dancho, aims to establish a national system that will help to quickly locate vulnerable Seniors who go missing – particularly those living with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or some other cognitive impairment.
This bill passed Second Reading in the House of Commons in June 2026 and has been referred to the House of Commons Committee on Public Safety for study and, we hope, all-party support at Third Reading.
As Oshawa's MP and the Official Opposition's Associate Shadow Minister for Public Safety, I look forward to moving this bill through the legislative process and into law.
Bill C-263 is a key component of the Conservative Opposition's ongoing advocacy to protect vulnerable Canadians, including Seniors right here in Oshawa.
This legislation has great potential to bring our missing loved ones home more quickly and safely.
The aim of this bill is simple: When a vulnerable senior goes missing, communities should be alerted quickly so more people know to look and know how to help.
Will you support our effort to bring Oshawa's Seniors home safely?
Whereas
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According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, nearly 1 million people across Canada will be living with dementia by 2030 and this will increase to more than 1.7 million as soon as 2050;
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According to Public Safety Canada, 60% of individuals living with dementia will go missing.
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If a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia is not found within 12 hours of being lost, there is a 50% chance that they will be found injured or dead from hypothermia, dehydration, or even drowning. This makes every search an emergency;
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A new National Silver Alert system would provide geographically-targeted notifications when a vulnerable adult with dementia or some other cognitive impairment goes missing;
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According to researchers from the University of Waterloo, older adults who get lost and go missing are usually found within 4 to 12 kilometres of their last known location;
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While an Amber Alert system has long been in place for vulnerable children, older adults lack an easily replicable warning system.
Therefore
We, the undersigned, call upon the Government of Canada and all Members of Parliament to support Bill C-263 and a new National Silver Alert System that may geographically target mobile devices and broadcast to media information concerning missing vulnerable adults. A National Silver Alert System will save lives.