As a concerned citizen deeply committed to the safety and protection of our vulnerable children, I feel a compulsion to instigate change to safeguard their well-being. I believe that every child under the age of 14 should instantly trigger an AMBER Alert if they have been missing for 24 hours or more. Currently, AMBER Alerts are issued only in believed abduction scenarios of a child or an adult with proven mental or physical disability, when their life is presumed to be in danger. Yet, we all know that a child under 14 cannot self-sustain and is extremely vulnerable mentally and physically.

Statistics show that the first few hours after a child's disappearance are the most critical in the search and recovery process. According to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, approximately 45,288 children were reported missing in Canada in 2016 alone. We cannot disregard the importance of initiating an immediate and adequate response when a child goes missing, regardless of the circumstances.

I am proposing the necessary change in the AMBER Alert criteria to issue an alert for any child under 14 years old who is missing for 24 hours or longer. In Alberta, where the safety of our children is paramount, we cannot ignore the necessity of this shift in policy.

Let us, as responsible adults, fulfil our duty towards the protection of our children. Join me in petitioning this change and ensuring that we take every possible step to prevent harm that could result from a delayed issuance of an AMBER Alert. Help safeguard our future by signing this petition today.